And then there were two Congressmen seeking to oust Speaker of the House John Boehner, and one of them represents Northern Kentucky.
“Might want to change that title!,” the Congressman posted to Facebook in reference to an article by Politico with the headline, “John Boehenr Coup Leader an Army of One”. That army was previously made up of North Carolina’s Mark Meadows (R), who introduced a motion this week that aims to remove fellow Republican Boehner, from West Chester in Ohio, from his Speakership.
“Virtually every board member tried to talk Mr. Meadows out of doing this. We had a phone call last night and I was a little angry. Getting surprised by this,” said one Republican member, who, like several other House conservatives, asked to speak without attribution to avoid openly criticizing a friend. “The whole reason that we formed the Freedom Caucus is that we wanted to work as a team and stop these kind of disorganized, one-man shows.”
And then on Wednesday evening, Massie bucked that trend and posted this to his Facebook page:
I am now a co-sponsor of Rep. Mark Meadows’s resolution to replace the Speaker of the House. Read this and let me know if you agree that Congress needs new leadership.
This is what the resolution reads:
H. RES. 385
RESOLUTION
Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives vacant.
Whereas the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 114th Congress has endeavored to consolidate power and centralize decisionmaking, bypassing the majority of the 435 Members of Congress and the people they represent;
Whereas the Speaker has, through inaction, caused the power of Congress to atrophy, thereby making Congress subservient to the executive and judicial branches, diminishing the voice of the American people;
Whereas the Speaker uses the power of the office to punish Members who vote according to their conscience instead of the will of the Speaker;
Whereas the Speaker has intentionally provided for voice votes on consequential and controversial legislation to be taken without notice and with few Members present;
Whereas the Speaker uses the legislative calendar to create crises for the American people, in order to compel Members to vote for legislation;
Whereas the Speaker does not comply with the spirit of the rules of the House of Representatives, which provide that Members shall have three days to review legislation before voting;
Whereas the Speaker continues to direct the Rules Committee to limit meaningful amendments, to limit debate on the House floor, and to subvert a straightforward legislative process; and
Whereas the House of Representatives, to function effectively in the service of all citizens of this country, requires the service of a Speaker who will endeavor to follow an orderly and inclusive process without imposing his or her will upon any
Member thereof: Now, therefore, be itResolved, That the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives is hereby declared to be vacant.
Massie did not vote to keep Boehner as Speaker in January.
-Staff report
Photo via Facebook of Massie speaking in DC in June
