Amash Won't Be Voting Boehner for Speaker [UPDATED]
Rep. Justin Amash (R-Michigan) confirmed that he won't be voting for Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) to continue in his role as Speaker of the House. Amash declared in a Facebook announcement that he would "vote for a new Speaker."
Here is his full statement:
Republicans have a historic opportunity in this Congress. We can pass significant legislation and push President Obama to the bargaining table for the first time in his presidency. We can uphold the Constitution and the Rule of Law. We can expand liberty and economic freedom for all Americans.
Our success is not assured. To accomplish our goals, we need sound strategy, crisp messaging, and a commitment to running the House as a deliberative body in which all its diverse voices are heard. Committees must be given enough time to do their work. Rank-and-file members must have sufficient time to read and debate legislation that can profoundly affect the lives of our constituents.
We have been told much over the last few years about opening up the House's legislative process and returning to regular order. Yet time and again, it seems that Congress governs by crisis and raw partisanship.
Our party and our country are different than they were a generation ago. Americans at home have learned from the policy mistakes our Congress has made over the last few decades. It's not clear that the men and women in congressional leadership have done the same. To appeal to more Americans and better reflect today's Republicans, we need modern leaders who respect the diversity of ideas within the House of Representatives.
Speaker Boehner has been the leader of our party in the House for eight years. We have welcomed at least three large waves of new representatives during that time. Republican conference rules limit chairmen to six years in their offices to promote fresh thinking and new priorities. We should apply those same principles to all our party's leaders.
The speaker of the House has one of the most challenging jobs in government. Speaker Boehner has given his best to our conference, and I thank him for his service. But it's time for Republicans to change our leadership. This afternoon, I will vote for a new speaker.
It's not clear, however, whether Amash will vote for either of the two candidates vying to replace Boehner, Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and Ted Yoho (R-Fla.). The vote will take place Tuesday afternoon.
Amash has had an icy relationship with Boehner in years past. The libertarian-leaning Republican's penchant for needling leadership cost him a commitee seat in the wake of the 2012 election. Amash did not vote for Boehner in 2013, either.
*Updated: Amash voted for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). I guess that's this guy.
More from Reason on Amash here.
