House Speaker John Boehner, who assumed his position four years ago and whose tenure has been marked by feuding among establishment Republicans and hard-line Tea Party members, plans to resign from Congress at the end of October.
“Speaker Boehner believes that the first job of any Speaker is to protect this institution and, as we saw yesterday with the Holy Father, it is one thing that unites and inspires us all,” Boehner’s office said in a statement.
“The Speaker’s plan was to serve only through the end of last year. Leader Cantor’s loss in his primary changed that calculation,” he continued in the statement, referring to former Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va, who was upset during the Republican primary in June 2014 by newcomer Rep. David Brat.
“The Speaker believes putting members through prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreperable damage to the institution. He is proud of what this majority has accomplished, and his Speakership, but for the good of the Republican conference and the institution, he will resign his Speakership and his seat in Congress, effective October 30.”
Boehner was initially expected to talk to reporters about his decision, but instead he only said a few words to the press as he hustled through the hallways of the Capitol. “It’s a wonderful day,” he said when asked why he left and whether he felt relieved.
But he did release a statement, in which he said he feared the ongoing turmoil over leadership would do “irreparable damage” to the House.
“It was my plan to only serve as Speaker until the end of last year, but I stayed on to provide continuity to the Republican Conference and the House,” he said. “It is my view, however, that prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution. To that end, I will resign the Speakership and my seat in Congress on October 30.”
“My mission every day is to fight for a smaller, less costly, and more accountable government,” he also said. “Over the last five years, our majority has advanced conservative reforms that will help our children and their children. I am proud of what we have accomplished.”
The announcement seemed to put House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the top spot to the be next Speaker of the House. While conservative GOP members were unhappy with Boehner for not standing up to their principles enough, McCarthy is a sort of bridge between many of the upstart GOP members and the mainstream members of the caucus.
McCarthy was seen briefly by reporters Friday morning, but he refused to stop and take questions about whether he is running or expects to win.
Meanwhile, at the Value Voters Summit Friday morning, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., received cheers and hoots when he told the audience that Boehner is leaving.
“And with all due respect to people that serve in government, it is important at this moment with respect to him and the service he has provided to our country – it is not about him or anybody else,” he said. “I am not here to bash anyone but the time has come to turn the page. The time has come to turn the page and allow a new generation of leadership in this country.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, when asked about Boehner at the summit, said “I have long said leadership decisions are to be made by the House but I have long called on Republican leadership to do something unusual: lead. To actually stand up and honor the commitments we made to the American people. There is a frustration across this country that is volcanic and it is not complicated to understand why.”
Michael Needham from Heritage Action for America said Boehner has “stood in the way” of a Congress that “fights for opportunity for all and favoritism to none.”
“Today’s announcement is a sign that the voice of the American people is breaking through in Washington. Now is the time for a principled, conservative leader to emerge.”
Reaction poured in from around the Capitol.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who is likely to succeed Sen. Harry Reid as the Senate Democratic leader in 2017, praised Boehner’s tenure but cautioned against electing someone further to the right.
“Speaker John Boehner is a decent, principled conservative man who tried to do the right thing under almost impossible circumstances,” Schumer said. “He will be missed by Republicans and Democrats alike.”
“Let us hope the Republican majority, which Speaker Boehner played a large role in creating, learns the right lesson from his resignation: to work with Democrats in a constructive way, rather than let a handful of extreme right-wingers dictate his party’s policy,” he added.
