Cong. Mark Meadows Seeks To Oust Speaker John Boehner

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has faced increasing criticism for his decisions on a number of issues from the more conservative members of the Republican caucus in Congress. Cong. Mark Meadows (R-NC) has introduced a “motion to vacate the chair” against the Speaker, the Washington Post reported yesterday. This rarely used motion, if it were to pass, would force a new election for Speaker of the House. It had only been used one other time, 105 years ago, in the entire history of the House of Representatives.

“It’s really more about trying to have a conversation on making this place work, where everybody’s voice matters, where there’s not a punitive culture,” Meadows said about the motion. “Hopefully, we’ll have some discussion about that in the days and weeks to come.”

Meadows had been stripped of a subcommittee chairmanship after voting against the leadership on a trade legislation procedural vote. While his position was restored, the move angered conservatives and caused more opposition to Speaker Boehner among the more conservative members of the GOP caucus in the House.

The Meadows motion accuses the speaker of several charges, alleging he has “endeavored to consolidate power and centralize decision-making” and using “the power of the office to punish Members who vote according to their conscience instead of the will of the Speaker.”

Conservative activist group FreedomWorks supports the Meadows motion to remove John Boehner as speaker, the Washington Times reported.

“Every time defenders of freedom need a leader, John Boehner has failed us,” said FreedomWorks chief executive Adam Brandon. “It’s time to remove Boehner from the speakership before it’s too late to pass bold reforms. Under his speakership, the Republican-controlled House has allowed taxes and spending to increase, and their agenda revolves more about pleasing lobbyists than standing on principle. It’s time to end the Boehner Blunder.”

Speaker John Boehner had angered conservatives by “caving” on amnesty, the Inquisitr had reported. The conflict came over the speaker advocating fully funding the Department of Homeland Security budget, including the part to fund the president’s immigration policies that many Republicans oppose.

“House Republicans, led by Boehner, had threatened to shut down DHS unless language in the funding bill included language that would block Obama’s amnesty plan. However, after a series of backroom deals failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion, Boehner went ahead and scheduled a vote for a DHS funding bill that lacked such language. The bill passed 257-167, with all 167 No votes coming from Republicans,” the Inquisitr had reported.

Most observers believe the motion filed by Cong. Meadows has very little probability of forcing Boehner to step down as speaker. Do you believe the Speaker of the House should resign, and be replaced by another member of Congress?

[Photo of John Boehner by Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP]