House Speaker John Boehner’s decision to resign from Congress at the end of October came as a total shock to Georgia’s members of Congress.
Boehner himself said he only made up his mind for sure this morning, coming off of an emotional day with Pope Francis and a turbulent path forward to keeping the government from shutting down.
The speaker broke the news to his caucus, and members then lined up to speak to the full group in praise of Boehner. Freshman Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, was among them. Loudermilk had been elected with a pledge to vote out Boehner and he did so by voice vote last fall, before supporting Boehner in January in the open floor vote because, he said, there was no real alternative.
Speaking for the first time at a full GOP caucus meeting, Loudermilk told the speaker: “This was probably the classiest and boldest act of leadership I’ve seen in my lifetime.”
With a vote of no-confidence looming on the floor if Boehner went ahead, as he plans, with a “clean” bill to fund the government through mid-December, Loudermilk said the move made sense:
"It's something that had to happen. No one wanted to go through what happened Jan. 6 again [when more than a dozen Republicans voted against Boehner on the floor]. So I think the speaker understood that, that for the future of the conference, the future of the nation that we have to be able to come together stronger and this was the best path to take."
Several members are personally fond of Boehner, even if they disagreed with him at times. From Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton:
"He's endured a lot in the last several years. And you know when we have our next speaker there are going to be groups that in the name of sending them $10 demonize our next speaker. … I'm the first to admit I wanted more aggressive leadership and I certainly hope that we have that going forward, but … I think the way it was done is unfortunate for the conference."
The way meaning with Boehner leaving under duress with a pile of unfinished business and a Democratic White House still making things hard on congressional Republicans.
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Coweta County, offered a quick endorsement for Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as the new speaker. McCarthy seems to have the inside track, while others — including Roswell Rep. Tom Price — angle for the majority leader post. But does Westmoreland think McCarthy will help the House GOP break through the gridlock?
"No. I think the outcome's the same. It's a dead end. It's really kind of a cul-de-sac. You're going to end up in the same place I think."
Democrats, meanwhile, offered fond wishes to Boehner while shaking their heads at the continued turmoil in the majority. Said Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia:
"I think the speaker's basically a good man who has tried to lead during trying times with his caucus, with his caucus just imploding under the weight of extremism, which produced gridlock and he wasn't able to accomplish anything. Even their own values and legislative agenda, they were not able to obtain. … I think that the Republican caucus will continue to implode and it's to the detriment of the America people. It's a detriment to our future."
Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., served with Boehner in the House and considers him a friend. Isakson said he’ll miss the droll Ohioan but “I understand where he’s coming from” in leaving. Now the House will take the Senate’s planned spending bill next week and keep the government open with Democratic votes, and the speaker will fall on his sword.
“He’s putting the country ahead of himself,” Isakson said.
About the Author
