Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, acknowledged Sunday that current Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is the favorite to replace John Boehner as speaker.
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Boehner said he had planned to announce it on his 66th birthday, November 17. He accused them of wanting to “enact into law a conservative vision for government, without compromise” with Democrats.
Even Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders offered a measure of sympathy for the balancing act Boehner had to attempt. Away from the cameras, Francis floored Boehner by asking the speaker to pray for him – “I did”, Boehner said.
“What we need in our next Speaker is a consistent conservative who will actually solve our financial crisis, get the government out of the way of distorting the American family, and check President Obama’s actions that wildly exceed his constitutional authority”. Instead, the move caused Boehner to resign and he is now expected to defy conservatives one more time by bringing up a funding bill to prevent a government shutdown next week that does not cut money from Planned Parenthood.
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon, called Boehner a “great leader” who endured a “thankless job”.
Cole, a close Boehner ally, said he hopes internal House Republican elections for a new speaker and other leadership posts will be held quickly.
An increase in the federal debt ceiling also will be needed by December and lawmakers from both parties want to revive the idled U.S. Export-Import Bank, which Boehner has long supported.
“We got groups here in town, members of the House and Senate here in town, who whip people into a frenzy believing they can accomplish things that they know-they know!-are never going to happen”. So change comes slowly, and obviously too slowly for some.
“I don’t want leave my successor a dirty barn”, he said.
“I want to clean the barn up a little bit before the next person gets there”, the Ohio Republican said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation”.
Boehner’s decision to resign from Congress removes the threat of a vote to oust him from the speakership. Although McCarthy has been loyal to Boehner, he built good connections with the conservatives. “I was there in the 90s when we actually got things done”, Kasich said. “I think it [the Pope’s visit] helped clear the picture”, Boehner said.
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With his relaxed and sociable demeanor, love of golf and well-known tendency to cry in public, Boehner was widely popular among House Republicans.
