Dan Webster Vows 'Better Legislative Process' and 'Principled Leadership' if Chosen Speaker

In the aftermath of U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announcing on Friday that he is leaving Congress at the end of last month, U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla., made his case on why he wants to take his place. 

Webster came up short against Boehner in a leadership contest at the start of the year. On Friday, Webster launched another bid to become speaker though U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., starts the contest as the heavy favorite. 

“I am running for speaker of the United States House of Representatives because I think our country and our party deserves a better legislative process,” Webster insisted on Monday. “I believe Congress is woefully broken, and in order for the Republican Party to be successful we must make decisions based upon principle, not upon power.  I believe that policy should be created based upon the merits of the idea, not on the position or seniority of the member who sponsored it – and I will work tirelessly to make that message heard.”
  
Webster insisted he was taking on the “powerful establishment of the Republican Party” and promised to offer a “message of principled leadership.”