Free Republic

With the news that House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, has dropped his bid for House speaker, the Republican conference is scrambling to find a new leader. Although speakers have always been members of the House of Representatives, it is in fact not a requirement written in the Constitution. Article I, Section 2 Clause 5 reads: "The House of Representatives shall chuse [sic] their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment." On a few occasions, lawmakers have voted for someone who isn't a member. Last January, when John Boehner was elected to serve as speaker...

(CNSNews.com) - Following House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R.-Calif.) surprise announcement today that he was withdrawing from the contest to become the next speaker of the House, incumbent House Speaker John Boehner (R.-Ohio) issued a statement saying that he would remain as speaker until a new speaker is elected. Boehner indicated that he was “confident” that would be “in the coming weeks.” However, Boehner did not announce a date on which the House would hold a vote to elect a new speaker. “After Leader McCarthy’s announcement, members of the House Republican Conference will not vote today for a new cpeaker,”...

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said on Thursday he will stay in the top post in the House of Representatives until his successor is elected, adding that he would announce the date of that vote later. "We will announce the date for this election at a later date, and I’m confident we will elect a new speaker in the coming weeks," the Ohio Republican said in a statement released after the surprise withdrawal of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy from the race.

After Leader McCarthy’s announcement, members of the House Republican Conference will not vote today for a new Speaker. As I have said previously, I will serve as Speaker until the House votes to elect a new Speaker. We will announce the date for this election at a later date, and I’m confident we will elect a new Speaker in the coming weeks. Our conference will work together to ensure we have the strongest team possible as we continue to focus on the American people’s priorities.

Who can replace Speaker of the House John Boehner, who announced Friday he’s quitting? Almost anyone. Maybe even you. This isn’t a comment on the job Representative Boehner has or has not done in his role as leader of his legislative chamber. It’s meant to illustrate a little-known fact: Under the Constitution, the speaker does not have to be a member of the House. He or she doesn’t have to be an elected lawmaker or government official. The speaker can be an ordinary, private citizen. In fact, there really are not any legal restrictions on qualifications for that office. The...

In 1952, the combatants were Dwight Eisenhower and Sen. Robert Taft of Ohio. In 1964, it was Barry Goldwater and Nelson Rockefeller. Today, they are outgoing House Speaker John Boehner and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. All have been at the center of an endless struggle that has roiled Republicans for decades as conservatives attempt to yank the party to the political right while more moderate or establishment Republicans try their best to nudge their way toward the center. In the vivid glare of an intense presidential race, party conservatives such as Cruz and Rep. Jim Jordan of Urbana are...

"BREAKING: GotNews.com Hit With ‘Cease & Desist’ Letter For McCarthy-Ellmers Affair Story" GotNews.com has been hit with a cease and desist letter from the counsel of Congresswoman Renee Ellmers amid allegations of her own martial infidelity. GotNews.com stands by its story regarding the DC, NC, and Bakersfield rumors regarding an alleged affair between Congresswoman Renee Ellmers and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. We look forward to the opportunity to avail ourselves of deposition with seated members of congress should it come to that. The letter, reproduced here, was written by Thomas A. Farr, an attorney from Ogletree Deakins, a white shoe...

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is making a promise to conservative Republican lawmakers—“I’m not John Boehner”—as he seeks their support to replace Boehner as speaker. […] “I think McCarthy’s pitch was ‘I’m not John Boehner, I’m going to run things differently, I’m my own man,’” said Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas. “And I think that’s a case that he does have to make. One of the things I hear all the time from my constituents back in Texas is we don’t want John Boehner 2.0.” …

Rep. Steve Scalise told supporters in a conference call Sunday evening that he has the votes to win the race for majority leader, according to sources on the call.The Louisiana Republican, currently the majority whip, sent an email to supporters Sunday saying he had a "big announcement." Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is considering moving back the election, a move that would give conservatives time to find someone to oppose Scalise and Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), who is also running for the post.

Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones Jones pulled petitions to run against Boehner in the 2010 primary election. He told the Journal-News today that he’s “weighing my options at this moment.” If he runs and is elected, Jones said he would commit to only serving six years in Congress. Jones said he doesn’t think anyone can beat him based on his national name recognition, which stems from his hard-line stance on immigration. State Sen. Bill Coley The Liberty Twp. Republican served six years in the Ohio House of Representatives and is the current state senator for Butler County, being appointed...

THE FEDERAL government’s authority to spend money on discretionary programs expires at midnight on Sept. 30 — just a week from Wednesday . As we write, no one can be sure that Congress will pass a law keeping the government funded beyond that date and thereby enable it to avoid a partial shutdown. In the Senate, Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) reportedly has a plan that would permit his caucus to stage a symbolic vote against Planned Parenthood without risking a shutdown. The bigger problem is in the House, where Speaker John A. Boehner (Ohio) is struggling — once again...

John Boehner is a decent, honorable man who displayed his deep commitment to country and party last week, announcing that he will resign from the House of Representatives in October and relinquish the speaker’s gavel. Mr. Boehner would have easily beaten any challenge to his leadership. But having decided some time ago that a quarter-century in Congress was enough, he chose to spare his Republican colleagues and the institution he loves a bruising fight. As Republicans’ leader in the House, Mr. Boehner’s record has been impressive. He marshaled united GOP opposition to President Barack Obama’s stimulus and to ObamaCare. He...

Republican presidential candidate and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush argued House Speaker Representative Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) did “a good job” as speaker in an interview broadcast on Wednesday’s “Situation Room” on CNN.

Just seven hours before federal agencies ran out of money, the House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill funding the federal government through Dec. 11. The measure, which comes hours after the Senate passed a spending bill of its own, will now go to President Barack Obama's desk and averts a government shutdown. The bill was approved 277 to 151, with House Democrats providing most of the votes in favor. Many conservatives wanted to use the bill to defund Planned Parenthood after edited videos released by an anti-abortion group purportedly showed officials talking about the sale of fetal tissue....

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he’d give John A. Boehner a grade of “B-” for the job he’s done as Speaker of the House. “I think John Boehner deserves a B-,” Mr. McCarthy, California Republican, said on Fox News’ “Hannity” program Tuesday evening. “Now look, you may disagree with me — he won a majority, we’ve got the highest margin we ever had before, we lowered the deficit … but you know what? There is a lot more.” He said the House has passed 300 bills this year that haven’t moved in the Senate.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy is not even Speaker of the House yet, but there is already a group ready to fire him. A group of prominent right-leaning organizations formed a coalition Wednesday dubbed "Fire Kevin McCarthy," pledging to remove the California Republican should he be chosen to replace John Boehner when he retires at the end of next month. "Having worked with Kevin McCarthy in the House, I'll admit he's a friendly guy," former Georgia Rep. Paul Broun said in a statement announcing the formation of the coalition. "But we need a dramatic change in House leadership — we can't afford...

Speaker John Boehner secretly met with Rep. Trey Gowdy Tuesday to encourage him to jump into the race for House majority leader, a dramatic attempt by the chamber’s top Republican to try to influence the intraparty election. The previously undisclosed meeting reveals new behind-the-scenes involvement by Boehner, who has not endorsed any candidates in the leadership race. That the Ohio Republican inserted himself in the contest underscores his concern about who succeeds him in GOP leadership. Boehner requested the meeting after word spread that Gowdy was considering a bid for the post. Many Republicans close to Boehner and House Majority...

The impending departure of Speaker of the House John Boehner gives the House Republicans a real opportunity to accomplish something. But an opportunity is not a guarantee. It is a little like a football team being first down and goal at the ten-yard line. You have a good chance of scoring a touchdown from there -- if you can get your act together. But you could also find yourself having to settle for a field goal. Or for a missed field goal. And of course you can also fumble the ball and have the other team grab it -- and...

Almost exactly seven years ago, House Speaker John Boehner said of the Wall Street bailout bill, “I think this thing is a crap sandwich” — but he’d vote for it anyway. I remarked at the time, “It’s crap sandwiches for as far as the eye can see” — and I was right. Boehner finally had his fill of the meal, opting to push away from the table, as it were. On Friday, he announced he’ll be resigning the speakership and his seat. (snip) Meanwhile, it appears the dogs have no idea what to do now that they’ve caught the car....

Ted Cruz called out Mitch McConnell seven times by name on Monday night. Afterward, the Senate majority leader barely uttered a word about his chief Republican adversary. Asked about Cruz’s diatribe on the Senate floor, during which the Texas Republican suggested McConnell is a puppet for Democratic leaders and a foe of conservatives, McConnell couldn’t conceal his smile on Tuesday. Story Continued Below “I have tried very hard to stay out of the presidential race, and I think that’s probably a good rule for me,” he said with a chuckle. McConnell may not like to talk about Cruz, but he...