Posted on 01/06/2015 8:10:29 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
A small but growing number of Republicans say they will vote Tuesday to deny John Boehner a third term as Speaker of the House.
But ousting a sitting Speaker is a difficult feat, and a group of a dozen defectors failed two years ago to depose Boehner, the powerful Ohio Republican.
Because the House GOP expanded its majority in the midterm elections, 29 Republicans would need to vote against Boehner to force a second ballot. Even then, it’s improbable that Boehner would relinquish the gavel and step aside without a drawn-out fight.
The Hill is keeping a running list on Republicans who are opposing Boehner. Here is where the count stands. Please send updates/feedback to iswanson@thehill.com.
NO VOTES (15)
Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.)* — "It's time for Republicans to change our leadership," he wrote in a Facebook post. Amash has a history of bucking GOP leadership.
Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) — Freshman who knocked off House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) had said he’d support Boehner, but flipped this week.
Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.)* — Disapproved of how the $1.1 trillion spending bill was handled last month.
Rep. Curt Clawson (R-Fla.) — "Now is a good time for change," he tweeted Tuesday.
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) — "A fresh start often requires change," he said.
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas)* — Outspoken Boehner critic says he’ll run for Speaker. Gohmert is friends with Fox News host Sean Hannity, who has called for Boehner's ouster.
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) — Has been saying he won't for Boehner for months.
Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) — "Honest. Principled. Conservative. Leadership is what I want," he tweeted on Tuesday. Initially said he would back Boehner.
Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.)* — Maverick lawmaker says he’ll back Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) for Speaker.
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) — Hard-line opponent of immigration reform backed Boehner two years ago. Since then, Boehner reportedly called King an "asshole" behind closed doors. Boehner ripped his GOP colleague after King made his controversial "canteloupe" remarks regarding DREAMers.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)*
Rep.-elect Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) — Stated on the campaign trail that he wouldn't back Boehner for Speaker. However, Palmer later said he regretted that pledge “to a certain extent” because it might threaten his ability to secure preferred committee assignments. Still, Palmer said he told Boehner he would need to keep his word.
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) — Stutzman lost whip race to Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.). Bridenstine says he’s been told Stutzman will oppose Boehner.
Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) — Tweeted that Gohmert "is not afraid to take the fight to the president."
Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.)* — Challenging Boehner for Speaker.
POSSIBLE NO VOTES (6)
Rep.-elect Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) — Was critical of Boehner on campaign trail.
Rep.-elect Jody Hice (R-Ga.) — Expressed dissent against Boehner when the House GOP Conference held its leadership elections in November.
Rep.-elect Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) — Freshman said he’d stand up to Boehner.
Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.)* — Pearce voted against Boehner in 2013, but is undecided this time.
Rep.-elect John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) — Defeated former Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Texas) in primary.
Rep.-elect Mark Walker (R-N.C.) — Walker indicated he wouldn't support Boehner during his GOP primary, but has hedged since.
DIDN'T BACK BOEHNER IN 2013, BUT WILL NOW (2)
Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) — Lost long-shot bid to defeat Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last year.
Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) — Like Labrador, Mulvaney abstained from voting in 2013.
OTHERS TO WATCH (5)
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) — Voted for Boehner in 2013, but she voted later than expected in the alphabetical roll call. The Washington Times recently wrote an editorial backing Blackburn for Speaker.
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) — Conservative backed Boehner in 2013.
Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) — Garrett supported Boehner in 2013, but will he this time around?
Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) — Conservative said last year he would vote for Boehner, noting he had no competition. But now he does.
Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) — Considered running against Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) for NRCC chairman.
*Voted against Boehner for Speaker in January, 2013 floor vote.
I would never have expected that from McClintock.
Daniel Webster is officially running for Speaker of the US House.
8:33am - 6 Jan 15
From Matthew Boyle twitter
Me neither unless something being promised..
This is where the rubber meets the road for so called conservative congressmen and congresswomen. The fake conservatives will soon
be exposed. The ones who talk, but don’t act.
This vote may trigger many good and credible conservative men and
women to jump in as primary challengers against the fake conservatives.
The 2016 primary season begins today.
We shall see who the fake conservatives are.
Link to McClintocks’ position:
Rep. Randy Weber, (R) Texas.....
A guest on Glenn Beck’s radio show just said that a bill near and dear to Randy Weber has been pulled by the republican “leadership” in the House.
Chet Stanger I understand you're undecided on how you'll vote on Boehner, well, let me remind you, that it's not your choice/decision alone. . . . Your constituents want him out. You need no other proof than the messages you've received, and the last election that gave conservatives the House and Senate. We, the people, want John Boehner out as Speaker.
I wonder where Gowdy and Jordan are on this?
Gowdy nominated Boehner.. He sold out long ago
Boehner is a mafia like thug and the members are scared of what he will do to them.
That what this Government has become, self serving thugs. There is no representative government anymore.
I read it.
He fails to mention that the caucus vote was taken before the Cromnibus bill was pushed.
I hope this is true.
Matthew Boyle
Gohmert confirms Dan Webster of Florida will allow himself to be nominated for Speaker
I still do not understand why the old House would nominate the next speaker. Why doesn’t the “just elected” House nominate the speaker?
Gowdy's not feelin' the love on his Facebook page. His constituents are outraged at the betrayal of him having nominated Boehner for Speaker.
On the Election of the House Speaker January 6, 2014
I am disappointed in Mr. Boehner’s leadership of the House and have expressed my concerns on many occasions. But shifting this decision from the House Republican Conference to the House Floor opens a Pandora’s Box.
The election of the House Speaker is a decision that is made by the House majority caucus. That decision is then enacted through a formal vote on the House floor by the unanimous action of that majority.
The Republican majority voted at its November meeting to re-elect John Boehner as Speaker after no member stepped forward to challenge him. Some have suggested now shifting that decision from the House Republican Conference to the House floor, where 29 Republicans can combine with Democrats to thwart it.
Conservatives should beware. On its worst day, the collective judgment of the Republican majority is much more conservative than that of the overall House membership. Shattering Republican unity in the election of Speaker is not likely to end with a more conservative alternative, but rather with a coalition of the most liberal House Republicans and House Democrats.
This happened in the California Assembly in 1994. Dissident Republicans broke with the Republican majority on the vote for Speaker, enlisting the votes of minority Democrats in exchange for a wholesale transfer of power. Though voters had elected a Republican majority, this coalition effectively gave Democrats control of the Assembly.
The proper place to contest a Republican speaker is in the House Republican Conference. At any meeting, a member may put a no-confidence motion to the conference and, if adopted, set the stage for a House vote to vacate the office and elect a successor. However, this requires every member of the Conference to respect the collective decision – a long-enduring precedent that would be destroyed by the proposed strategy. I cannot support it.
Steve King mentioned this last night during an interview on FOX. Another solid “not for Boehner” vote.
No indication of Jordan's position on his Facebook page but his constituents are unanimously against him voting for Boehner.
Every GOP Rep's Facebook page I've checked this AM shows universal condemnation of Boehner.
So he’s saying it’s a tarp? Gohmert et al wouldn’t walk into a trap.
Thanks watching now...
Dear Mr. McClintock:
I am most disappointed with your failure to uphold conservative principles as a result of your support of Mr. Boehner's speakership. Mr. Boehner has through his actions demonstrate time and again that he is no friend to conservatives and that his ability and effectiveness to lead the caucus -- and now the House -- is questionnable at best.
Your action - rather, inaction - to support Mr. Boehner to remain as the ineffective leader that he has proven himself to be is cause for me to reconsider my solid support of you as my representative
Regretfully,
Just like the time honored filibuster tradition in the Senate? Sorry ol’ chap. Time for asymmetrical warfare.
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