Two conservatives in the House are encouraging fellow lawmakers to come out and condemn Speaker John Boehner’s “political retribution” on Republicans who voted against his re-election to lead the body.
Oklahoma Rep. Jim Bridenstine and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie issued a joint statement Thursday evening criticizing the Ohio Republican for removing Reps. Daniel Webster and Richard Nugent from their seats on the House Rules Committee because they voted for someone else for speaker on Tuesday.
“This retribution compromises the ability of Members of Congress to faithfully represent their constituents and subverts our representative democracy,” Bridenstine and Massie said.
“The Speaker must immediately reinstate these members,” the conservative lawmakers added. “No member should be punished for voting his or her conscience. We expect other members of the House of Representatives to condemn this act of political retribution.”
In total, 25 Republicans voted against Boehner, who still won re-election regardless. He acknowledged Wednesday that he punished stripped Webster and Nugent from their seats because of their “activities on the floor” during the vote.
Boehner’s punishment is notable, considering he previously ruled out retribution.
Asked last week if any Republicans who voted against Boehner would be punished, spokesman Michael Steel told The Daily Caller, “Boehner has said publicly that there will be no retribution for ‘no’ votes.”
In September, USA Today reported that Boehner “shot down fresh rumors that he will face a revolt from conservatives when he seeks a third term as speaker in January, and he dismissed suggestions that his leadership team would strip committee assignments from any GOP lawmaker who voted against him.”
“I just don’t think it’s necessary,” Boehner said of punishing dissenters.
Now, Boehner is attempting to heal wounds inside his party, arguing that he is more conservative than his critics acknowledge.
“During my years here when I voted, I had the eighth most conservative voting record in the Congress,” Boehner said Thursday during a press conference. “And it does pain me to be described as spineless or a squish.”
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