Nevertheless, Boehner’s departure ensures a major leadership race in which Tea Party conservatives would be expected to field a candidate.
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Though he is also known as a strong conservative, his tactics were never confrontational enough to satisfy the most conservative faction in the House.
The turmoil in Congress is playing out against an already roiling race for the Republican presidential nomination in which the candidates at the top of opinion polls are all Washington outsiders.
Conservative Republicans have expressed frustration since the start of 2015, after Republicans gained eight seats and the Senate majority in the 2014 elections, about McConnell’s seeming inability to lead the chamber in a more rightward direction. Rick Santorum, a Pennsylvania Republican, suggested Boehner had “changed” during his time as speaker.”While I disagree with Speaker Boehner’s politics, I appreciate his commitment and respect for this institution”.
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon called Boehner a “great leader” who endured a “thankless job”.
“Serving in Congress means countless hours away from family and loved ones, and I thank Speaker Boehner for his service and for the sacrifices he and his family have made over the last 24 years”, Blum said in a statement.
Locally, House Speaker John Boehner’s decision to resign was unexpected but not necessarily a surprise.
Pelosi on Sunday said that Boehner’s resignation shows there is “disarray in the Republican Party”. “The American people are disappointed”, Christie told Fox News.
“We need bold leadership, and this gives us a chance to get it”, said Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas. “Things are not that different”.
With government funding set to run out at midnight Wednesday, and conservatives insisting that Planned Parenthood be defunded in exchange for legislation keeping the government open, the GOP-controlled Congress seemed on-track for another costly standoff.
The Roman-Catholic Ohio congressman described spending the day with his spiritual leader as deeply moving and a factor in the timing of his resignation announcement. “Well, you can imagine, I was a mess”. A relative newcomer to Congress, Webster was first elected in 2010, defeating the loathsome incumbent Alan Grayson in the process.
Boehner said the House will investigate the videos.
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“If I wasn’t planning on leaving here soon, I can tell you I would not have done this”, he said. “But”, he added, “Why do I want to make my members, Republican members, walk the plank?”
