In his support of Boehner, McCarthy gave a lengthy defense of the successes that Republicans have had this year created to deflect criticism from the likes of Mulvaney, Salmon and Fleming, who say that there has been no difference in Congress now that Republicans control both the House and Senate.
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Viewed as the only viable option for succeeding Boehner, McCarthy’s defense served as a rejection of overtures from some conservatives who have been privately suggesting that, if they succeeded in a coup attempt on the speaker, they would support the genial Californian in a smooth succession.
“The people considering this are being totally irresponsible, but Boehner’s guys, we’re getting ready for whatever may come – not out of fear, but with exasperation about what some Republicans are willing to do to their own party”, said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who is part of the speaker’s circle of unofficial advisers.
In theory, the House Speaker could see Huelskamp’s rhetoric as proof that the far-right’s position is intractable, which in turn could push Boehner to reach out to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
That move would, he wrote in a letter, “alienate the public from the pro-life cause at precisely the time when undercover videos of Planned Parenthood’s barbaric practices are turning public opinion in our favor”. In 2013, a dozen conservative lawmakers opposed his election to speaker on the House floor.
Rep. Cheri Bustos wants the House to stay in session around the clock – including weekends – until Congress passes a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the month.
GOP leaders have shown no interest in allowing a vote on it, but conservatives have the ability to force a vote on the floor – they just haven’t tried yet.
Republicans blame the current filibuster rules for blocking House legislation, including a measure passed Friday that would block taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, an abortion provider that also offers health services for women. If the Speaker strikes a deal with Democrats and keeps the government’s lights on, his job is in jeopardy.
“Look, the problem that we have here is not an ideological problem with Speaker Boehner”, said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, a leader of the effort to oust Boehner.
“We should be spending all of our time and energy confronting this administration’s disastrous policies”, he added.
Several House Democratic leadership aides say it would be hard to vote against Boehner, while others said Democrats would vote present. If every GOP lawmaker voted, Boehner would win with 124 votes. There are likely enough conservatives to deny him the 218 Republican votes he needs to pass a government-funding bill without Democratic help if it doesn’t include language defunding Planned Parenthood.
In July, North Carolina Republican Rep. Mark Meadows began the play to oust Boehner by offering the motion to “vacate the chair” on the House floor. Still, GOP leaders seem to have concluded for now that a shutdown is the wrong move as the 2016 election approaches.
Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the majority whip, told reporters Thursday that his preferred tactic is to put a plan to defund Planned Parenthood onto a reconciliation bill, which can not be filibustered in the Senate.
“This same group has frustrated our effort by joining with Democrats by preventing us from moving forward a conservative agenda”, said Oregon GOP Rep. Greg Walden.
Federal agencies run out of money at the end of the month and GOP congressional leaders are scrambling to come up with a strategy to avoid another government shutdown.
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“That’s a distraction”, McCarthy said of a potential vote to oust Boehner, explaining his message to Republicans: Focus on what we were brought here to do.
