The House speaker holds the most powerful position in the U.S. House of Representatives and is second in the USA presidential line of succession after the vice president.
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“The Republican House is in a sad state”, bemoaned Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada on the floor of the senate Monday.
McCarthy, who succeeded Cantor as majority leader, praised Boehner’s tenure as speaker, which saw party infighting between tea party hardline conservatives and more moderate Republicans. He has not yet formally announced that he would run for the post, but no clear rival has emerged.
“That is why I have chose to run for Speaker of the House and graciously ask for your support”, McCarthy said in a letter to his Republican colleagues.
House Speaker John Boehner chose to resign rather than risk losing his job, charged Sen.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa used to share early morning meals with Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy when they both served in the California Assembly. Most House Republicans, Boehner included, are very conservative. He was elected to Congress only nine years ago, making him one of the fastest climbers up the ladder to the Speakership in history.
“We must wage this war against radical Islam as if our life depended on it. Because it does”, said McCarthy, who also reiterated his criticism of the global nuclear deal with Iran. And as Terri Studer, campaign committee chair for the Ohio Federation of Republican Women, explains, locals, we just as shocked by Boehner’s resignation announcement.
But Massie, a vocal critic of Boehner’s leadership, expressed concern that things would not be much different if the speaker is replaced by McCarthy, who was previously the GOP whip before becoming majority leader.
He told that Boehner had informed him and other members that the House would be voting on a “clean” continuing resolution – a short-term spending bill that did not included riders attacking Planned Parenthood or otherwise – by this Wednesday.
Webster came up short against Boehner in a leadership contest at the start of the year.
While McCarthy is known for cordial relationships with conservatives in the party, he could face some opposition as he reaches for the gavel.
McCarthy says he’ll listen to everyone.
In fact, Boehner was facing a challenge to his leadership from the conservative House Freedom Caucus wing of his own Republican caucus. some of them question whether McCarthy, who’s seen more as a political operator than an ideologue, would deliver that new approach.
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