Republicans representing Florida in Congress weighed in after U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced on Friday that he would resign his post by the end of October.
At the start of the year, Boehner faced a leadership challenge which included two opponents from the Sunshine State: Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Dan Webster and Ted Yoho. Two Republicans from Florida -- U.S. Reps. Rich Nugent and Bill Posey -- voted for Webster while U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Fla., backed U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to be House speaker.
Despite this opposition, some Republicans representing Florida praised Boehner on Friday.
"This is a major loss for Congress as an institution and is particularly painful for House Republicans,” U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., said on Friday. “No one has worked harder for the American people and no one has worked harder to build our majority than Speaker John Boehner. He is one of the most decent, caring people I have ever met, and I will miss him every day."
U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., was far more critical of Boehner’s opponents even though he has Nugent’s endorsement for his U.S. Senate campaign in 2016.
"The honor of John Boehner this morning stands in stark contrast to the idiocy of those members who seek to continually divide us," Jolly told the Associated Press. "The shutdown caucus, as I call them, has a small victory.”
Jolly turned his focus back to Boehner later in the day.
"John Boehner made a decision this morning that he believes is in the best interest of the nation,” Jolly said. “As a colleague and as someone who believes in the honor of an institution we call the People's House, I commend his decision and I commend the speaker for his decades of service. The important question we now face as a party is whether we will be a Congress committed to governing, to giving voice to the people who entrust us to serve, and to actually moving legislation that addresses the issues most important to the country.”
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., one of the leading congressional Republican voices on international affairs, praised U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, on Friday as he announced his plans to resign by the end of October.
“John has been an incredible leader for our Republican Conference and a tremendous speaker for our Congress since 2011,” Ros-Lehtinan said. “Ever since coming to Washington, John has worked in a bipartisan manner to help create jobs and restore American leadership. John expanded our big-tent party and has represented his home state of Ohio well for over 20 years with pride and integrity. He has helped maintain a hard line on the Castros’ despotic rule in Cuba, has been supportive of strong relations with Israel, and continues to be a tough opponent of the weak and dangerous Iran nuclear deal.
“I have had the privilege of traveling with John to Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, and many other places where he has represented our nation excellently,” Ros-Lehtinen added. “John’s decorum, grace, and patience are his hallmarks and they will be missed in the Capitol. Only in America can the son of a barkeep rise to make a lasting, positive contribution to our history. Dexter and I wish John, Debbie, the Boehner family, and his new granddaughter Alistair all the best.”
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., who sits on the U.S. House Ways and Means and Budget committees, said Boehner’s announcement on Friday was a stunner but provided the GOP a new chance to clean things up in Washington.
“The speaker’s surprise resignation presents an opportunity for new leadership to address the crippling dysfunction in Washington,” Buchanan said. “The paralysis and gridlock that have frustrated so many Americans must end. It is my hope that Speaker Boehner’s resignation will serve as a wakeup call that leads to a positive agenda on behalf of the American people.”
U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., talked to The Hill after Boehner told the GOP caucus he was leaving Congress.
“Everybody’s still in sort of a state of shock,” Mica told The Hill, adding Boehner said conservative opposition to his leadership was starting to get too much attention.
“He just does not want to become the issue,” Mica added. “Some people have tried ot make him the issue, both in Congress and outside.
“We’ll just have to regroup. We faced challenges before,” Mica insisted.
Yoho spoke to Sunshine State News on Friday and said Boehner did the right thing by stepping down.
“This is a huge win for the American people,” Yoho told Sunshine State News on Friday, adding Republicans would now be able to advance conservative policy.
“This is something that had to happen,” Yoho added. “I commend John Boehner for resigning.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
