There is a buzz in Washington right now regarding a little plot going on to replace Speaker of the House, John Boehner. According to the National Journal’s reporter, Tim Alberta, several dozen House conservatives are planning to do just that. Apparently, these House conservatives have been meeting secretly for dinners at the Capitol Hill Club and have had a chain of emails swirling around on how exactly they should accomplish this. Some of the suggestions include forcing Boehner out after the midterm election with enough pressure by proving that he does not have enough votes to remain the Speaker. Of course this would all depend on if Boehner decides to run again for reelection. Another suggestion would be to put some pressure on Majority Leader Eric Cantor, with a promise to back him as the new Speaker, provided that he would bring aboard a conservative lieutenant. So in essence, they would want to scare Cantor just a little, in order to gain his support. So who exactly are these House members behind this move?
Alberta claims that the 40-50 members of this so-called plot are trying to remain in the shadows as long as possible not wanting to “put a target” on their backs quite yet. However, he claims that each one of them have verbally committed already to electing a new speaker. It is speculated that the core of this movement lies within the House Liberty Caucus in which Justin Amash (MI), Raul Labrador (ID) and Thomas Massie (KY) were three of twelve Republicans who did not vote for Boehner’s reelection in 2013. According to Alberta,
The conservatives’ exasperation with leadership is well known. And now, in discreet dinners at the Capitol Hill Club and in winding, hypothetical-laced email chains, they’re trying to figure out what to do about it. Some say it’s enough to coalesce behind — and start whipping votes for — a single conservative leadership candidate.”
Amash warned the Speaker in 2013 that there would be another “rebellion” down the road if Boehner did not embrace conservatives. Boehner is not the only target of conservative House member’s criticism. Cantor recently came under fire for authorizing a voice vote regarding the Medicare “doc fix” that he managed to push through. However, according to Alberta, the Mutiny members believe that having Cantor in their corner will help them in their quest to oust Boehner.
Will they be able to pull this off? They failed in 2013. Some speculate that the failure was due to the fact that they didn’t have a suitable replacement. This time they are counting on Cantor who is next in line for Speaker anyway. Boehner has claimed that he will seek reelection although there have been rumors that he will retire.
“Speaker Boehner is focused on the American people’s top priority: helping our economy create more private sector jobs,” said Boehner spokesman Michael Steel. “He has also said—publicly and privately—that he plans to be speaker again in the next Congress.”
Well it looks like the Tea party and conservatives aren’t the only ones fed up with Boehner’s failed leadership. Conservative leaders appear to be fed up too. Will there be a mutiny in the House? I’m curious to see how this will develop after the midterm election.
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