Posted on 12/11/2013 11:36:39 AM PST by Gipper08
Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise has fired the group's longtime executive director, Paul Teller, multiple sources tell National Journal.
The reason for the dismissal, according to sources familiar with the situation, is that Teller allegedly shared sensitive conversations between RSC members with outside advocacy groups, some of whom hold policy positions counter to the RSC.
"No staffer is above a member," said one senior Republican aide familiar with the situation. "Paul was divulging private, member-level conversations and actively working against RSC strategies supported by House conservatives."
Teller could not immediately be reached for comment.
The move comes as Scalise, who has not stated whether he will support the budget compromised brokered by Rep. Paul Ryan, is attempting to take the temperature of his members on the agreement.
Scalise was meeting individually with top conservative lawmakers, including former RSC Chairman Jim Jordan, prior to Wednesday's RSC gathering. Jordan, who is close to Teller, initially said the meeting was about Ryan's budget agreement. But it became clear afterwards that other things, including Teller's dismissal, were discussed.
On his way into the RSC meeting, Scalise emphasized that he remained undecided on Ryan's deal. "We're going to talk about that in here," he said.
Teller, a staunch conservative with longstanding ties to outside groups opposing the deal, is accused of working behind the scenes to derail the budget agreement.
The dismissal was announced to members at Wednesday's closed-door meeting. Shortly after the caucus gathered around lunchtime, dozens of staffers were asked to leave the room, an unusual move that typically signals Scalise's desire to discuss a sensitive matter with RSC members only.
Scalise informed members at the meeting that he had asked for Teller's resignation, and that Teller accepted. But the chairman did not elaborate on why the decision was made. "If you want to discuss the details, call my office," Scalise said, according to members present.
The decision was apparently made unilaterally by Scalise. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., a member of the RSC steering committee, said she was surprised by the news of Teller's firing. "I didn't find out about it until I walked in the room," she said.
Teller joined the RSC in 2001 as legislative director, and shortly thereafter assumed the role of executive director, a position he's held for more than 10 years.
There is no immediate word on who will replace Teller as executive director, a pivotal position that helps organize weekly meetings and policy papers for the caucus of more than 170 House Republicans.
Jim DeMint should hire him immediately.
Heck half of the RINOs leak stuff to the Dems and they don’t get fired.
establishment chants FIRE HIM to conservative in Debt deal
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/60035.html
Boehner to members “get your @ss in line”
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/27/boehner-to-gop-members-get-your-ass-in-line/
They have been waiting to get this guy for awhile.
Make no mistake this is an establishment hit on conservatism timed with the Ryan Sellout in order to wipe out the opposition to big government Republicanism in the house.
Their is clearly a new game plan to marginalize conservatives by the beltway GOP. Ryan & Boehner both lashed out at conservatives today. The surrender caucus is trying to get their right flank covered before the 2014 campaign season starts.
For stupid!! The guys name is “TELLER!” Hel-lo-o-o! He can’t keep a secret.
Very true!!!
Reid and Pelosi knew exactly who could be flipped way before each vote.
Night of the long knives.
The purge continues.
Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), an RSC member and one of those on the RSC “target list,” said that leadership has given the RSC “everything that we have asked for.” Ellmers said she may quit the group.
Does anybody really believe that?
“Yet when it comes time for a little bit of compromise on the RSC’s part, they’re not willing to compromise. And that’s just not the way to go about this,” Ellmers said.
They're increasing discretionary spending by nearly $70 billion and she calls it 'getting everything they wanted'? I take it she thinks 'conservatives' want to spend more. Looks like the RSC needs to purge its ranks as she probably joined in order to gain a credential, not to curtail our runaway government.
Time to send her name to the TEA Party to find her a worthy primary opponent.
Several members of the RSC have held high positions in the House leadership. Presently, seven of the nine top Republican leaders—Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam, Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling, Conference Vice-Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Conference Secretary John Carter, Policy Committee chairman Tom Price, and National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Pete Sessions—are members of the RSC. Only two members of Republican leadership are not members of the RSC: Speaker John Boehner (who is, by tradition, the leader of the House Republicans) and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy.
The real problem is that in 2010,despite being the largest GOP freshman class in history, is also the most liberal in history(in terms of big government establishment careerism). Even the 15 most conservative I don’t see keeping their sparkling activism in ten years.
We simply don’t have conservatives in D.C.
Even the RSC is at war against conservatives?
These guys want to see a Democrat rout in 2014 it seems to me
CNN and Politico? The DNC outlets? Really?
bump
I agree
I’m so disgusted with the R’s in DC.
me too
That’s what I have been saying. It’s fine to beat up on Boehner and the RINOs but the truth is we really have no representation exept for a handful of conservatives. Cruz - our pride and joy - actually went to the Mandela festival. We are so screwed.
That’s what i have been saying. Its fine to beat up on Boehner and the RINOs but the truth is we dont have hardly any conservatives in govt. Our pride and joy actually went to the Mandela festival. We are so screwed.
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