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| Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC) |
Sparks have flown before between House GOP
leadership and more conservative members in the caucus. At one point, House
Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz of Utah had announced
to one of his sub-committee chairman colleagues, Mark Meadows of North Carolina,
that he would be stripped of his assignment for his vote against Fast-Track
trade promotion authority.
Conservative pushback from grassroots efforts and conservative
media, plus the fact that his fellow committee members refused to comply with
the move, forced
Chaffetz and GOP leadership to back off.
media, plus the fact that his fellow committee members refused to comply with
the move, forced
Chaffetz and GOP leadership to back off.
Now, Meadow has thrown down the gauntlet, and
challenged Boehner’ speakership outright. As an outstanding member of the House
Freedom Caucus, he has established considerable influence with his conservative
caucus members already and has pressured House Leadership already. NewsMax
reports:
challenged Boehner’ speakership outright. As an outstanding member of the House
Freedom Caucus, he has established considerable influence with his conservative
caucus members already and has pressured House Leadership already. NewsMax
reports:
Emboldened by recent successes and growing membership rolls, the
far-right House Freedom Caucus has plans to capitalize on its influence by
trying to block GOP initiatives and demand others are altered to make them more
conservative, Politico
reports.
far-right House Freedom Caucus has plans to capitalize on its influence by
trying to block GOP initiatives and demand others are altered to make them more
conservative, Politico
reports.
Blocking the renewal of the Export-Import Bank, raising spending caps and
creating a "'Contract with America'-style manifesto of legislative
proposals that it will lobby GOP leaders to take up" are among the caucus'
plans, according to Politico.
This boldness has now reached a new height: dethrone Boehner, a rising
sentiment echoed on ads blanketing conservative blogs, as well as conservative
bloggers and radio hosts.
The
Washington Post reports on Meadows’ move:
Washington Post reports on Meadows’ move:
In
a blistering resolution, Meadows slammed Boehner for causing the “power of
Congress to atrophy” and using his office to “punish members who vote according
to their conscience instead of the will of the Speaker.” The measure was
referred to the Rules Committee, aides said.
a blistering resolution, Meadows slammed Boehner for causing the “power of
Congress to atrophy” and using his office to “punish members who vote according
to their conscience instead of the will of the Speaker.” The measure was
referred to the Rules Committee, aides said.
No one has challenged sitting speaker in over 100
hundred years (the last time), and even then, the presiding officer retain the
speakership
hundred years (the last time), and even then, the presiding officer retain the
speakership
Included in the resolution, the
Tar Heel Republican listed complaints like “bypassing the majority of the 435
Members of Congress and the people they represent” and causing “the power of
Congress to atrophy, thereby making Congress subservient to the Executive and
Judicial branches, diminishing the voice of the American People”, as well as “continues to direct the Rules Committee to
limit meaningful amendments, to limit debate on the House floor, and to subvert
a straightforward legislative process.”
Tar Heel Republican listed complaints like “bypassing the majority of the 435
Members of Congress and the people they represent” and causing “the power of
Congress to atrophy, thereby making Congress subservient to the Executive and
Judicial branches, diminishing the voice of the American People”, as well as “continues to direct the Rules Committee to
limit meaningful amendments, to limit debate on the House floor, and to subvert
a straightforward legislative process.”
Harsh words, but Meadows is not alone. Other House members have bemoaned the
overbearing executive branch, including Executive Amnesty, among other
Presidential acts of overreach. Meadows voted against reinstating Boehner
before, too.
overbearing executive branch, including Executive Amnesty, among other
Presidential acts of overreach. Meadows voted against reinstating Boehner
before, too.
WaPo
continued:
continued:
One
of Boehner’s staunchest House critics, Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (R-N.C.),
suggested that anti-Boehner Republicans might be trying to gin up support among
conservative media — a drumbeat that
could get louder while lawmakers are home in their districts.
of Boehner’s staunchest House critics, Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (R-N.C.),
suggested that anti-Boehner Republicans might be trying to gin up support among
conservative media — a drumbeat that
could get louder while lawmakers are home in their districts.
“I hope the talk show hosts who are so frustrated
would pick up on this thing and beat the drum so loud that other members feel
like they can be encouraged to join this effort to change the leadership of the
House,” Jones said, according to DeBonis.
would pick up on this thing and beat the drum so loud that other members feel
like they can be encouraged to join this effort to change the leadership of the
House,” Jones said, according to DeBonis.
Similar
efforts grassroots-media effort enabled Meadows to keep his committee
assignment. Would a similar revolt from voters and new media sites force
individual members to vote their conscience and constituency as opposed to
party lines, corporate interests, and lobbying efforts?
Some complaints
have suggested that Meadows is fomenting drama, not in the best interests of
the House GOP caucus. Congressman Devin Nunes of California called the
resolution a “fundraising tool”.
have suggested that Meadows is fomenting drama, not in the best interests of
the House GOP caucus. Congressman Devin Nunes of California called the
resolution a “fundraising tool”.
The Macon,
Georgia Telegraph called the Meadows’ resolution a “largely symbolic gesture”
not likely to leave its first committee stop. Breitbart
reporter Matthew Boyle offered a
more dramatic and positive take:
Georgia Telegraph called the Meadows’ resolution a “largely symbolic gesture”
not likely to leave its first committee stop. Breitbart
reporter Matthew Boyle offered a
more dramatic and positive take:
It’s
unclear if this will be successful, but over the past few years there have been
two major coup attempts at Boehner. Both were unsuccessful—but extraordinarily
close to succeeding—and centered around plays at the beginning of this Congress
and the beginning of the last Congress.
unclear if this will be successful, but over the past few years there have been
two major coup attempts at Boehner. Both were unsuccessful—but extraordinarily
close to succeeding—and centered around plays at the beginning of this Congress
and the beginning of the last Congress.
This
move will focus on centering around a different strategy, and it all comes
after Boehner’s leadership team unsuccessfully attempted retaliation against
Meadows for opposing Obamatrade.
move will focus on centering around a different strategy, and it all comes
after Boehner’s leadership team unsuccessfully attempted retaliation against
Meadows for opposing Obamatrade.
Following US Senator Ted Cruz’ backlash against
Senate Majority Leader McConnell, combined with the rising discontent among conservative
voters expecting more confrontation from the entrenched House GOP majority and
newly established US Senate GOP caucus, these upstart maneuvers from more
conservative elected officials may find more success in the coming months,
especially with the coming August recess.
Senate Majority Leader McConnell, combined with the rising discontent among conservative
voters expecting more confrontation from the entrenched House GOP majority and
newly established US Senate GOP caucus, these upstart maneuvers from more
conservative elected officials may find more success in the coming months,
especially with the coming August recess.
Still, some members and outside partisans find this
ouster less than outstanding. A petition has also
begun on MoveOn.org to have Meadows removed from office. CNN reported the frustration of another
member, who asked to remain anonymous:
ouster less than outstanding. A petition has also
begun on MoveOn.org to have Meadows removed from office. CNN reported the frustration of another
member, who asked to remain anonymous:
"We
were all really angry, frustrated and saying, 'Why now?' We need to focus on
the Iran deal," the member said. "This is the best thing that could
happen to President Obama. He just took the focus off Iran."
were all really angry, frustrated and saying, 'Why now?' We need to focus on
the Iran deal," the member said. "This is the best thing that could
happen to President Obama. He just took the focus off Iran."
The response from national sites and interest groups
will more likely determine the long-term influence, for better or for worse,
regarding Meadow’s attempts to steer the House GOP caucus toward more conservative
legislative ends for the remainder of the 114th Congress.
will more likely determine the long-term influence, for better or for worse,
regarding Meadow’s attempts to steer the House GOP caucus toward more conservative
legislative ends for the remainder of the 114th Congress.