A group of House Republicans hate President Obama so much that there is a very real possibility that they overthrow John Boehner if he allows a vote on the Senate passed clean funding bill for Homeland Security.
Politico reported, “Boehner’s allies are concerned after Friday’s setback that his critics inside the Republican Conference may try to oust him as speaker if — as expected — he puts a long-term DHS funding bill on the House floor next week. While Boehner shrugs off such speculation, close friends believe such a move is a real possibility.”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi signaled to her House Democrats that Speaker Boehner cut a deal with her to allow a clean vote on the Senate passed Homeland Security bill next week, “Your vote tonight will assure that we will vote for full funding next week. Thank you for your leadership.”
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Boehner’s spokesman, Michael Steel, denied that his boss made a deal with Democrats, “We did not make any such ‘deal’ or promise.”
There obviously was a deal made. Here is how the process is expected to play out. Senate Democrats are going to block the move to form a conference committee that would combine the House and Senate passed bills. Without a conference committee, House Republicans can’t reinsert their language overturning President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. Speaker Boehner’s only remaining move will be to bring the Senate’s clean Homeland Security funding bill to the floor for a vote. Democrats will join with Boehner’s supporters in passing the clean funding bill.
If all goes as expected, conservatives will be demanding that Boehner be removed from the speakership. In other words, a group of House Republicans hate President Obama so much that they are willing to jeopardize Homeland Security in an attempt to defeat him. They would deem Boehner’s clean funding of Homeland Security to be a fireable offense, and would seek to remove Boehner from his position as the leader of the House Republicans.
House Democrats have likely agreed not speak publicly about the deal, but it is clear that this situation is going to end with the Senate’s bill that funds DHS through September being passed, but because he didn’t sufficiently jeopardize national security, John Boehner might find himself out of a job.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
