Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline on Friday did not mince words about the House members who encouraged Speaker John Boehner's departure:"I think they've made a terrible mistake. They have been doing damage to the party and the institution and the country through their actions."
Boehner told Republican House members Friday morning that he would resign from the speakership, and Congress, next month to avoid allowing those opponents to move for a vote against him. Kline said he was "stunned" and "reeling" from the announcement.
"I think that the action he took was both courageous and selfless," said Kline, a strong Boehner ally.
The Minnesota Second District Republican said that Boehner, of Ohio, helped save the House from the damage and turmoil that would have occurred had a handful of House Republicans opponents -- Kline estimated maybe 15 to 20 members -- moved against the speaker's leadership.
"It's just damaging to the institution, to the party, and to the country and so, John got up there and said essentially those words," Kline said. "Many of us are very sad but that's the action he took."
Kline said that his own announcement earlier this month that he would not run for re-election in 2016 and Boehner's resignation were unrelated.
The seven-term member said that he believes government will be funded next week, avoiding a federal shutdown, and that work will continue, as before, on passing a new education law.
"We are going to continue to try to get No Child Left Behind replaced. We are going to be going to conference in the next few weeks and finishing that task," said Kline, chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
He said he did not know who will be the next speaker. Several members have already expressed some interest, Kline said, but Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, of California, is "the likely winner."
"But I don't know. A lot of frankly... we're still kind of reeling from this thing," Kline said. "I'm going to come home to Minnesota here this afternoon and by tomorrow morning, half hour before sunrise, I'll be down in a duck blind. I'm going to think about that."
Here's how others in Minnesota's House delegation reacted:
Republican U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen
"In a truly American story, John Boehner grew up the son of a barkeep with eleven brothers and sisters and worked his way up to become Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. His steady, calm leadership has been an asset as Congress has navigated through difficult obstacles and passionate debates. The Speaker’s decision to step down is one of incredible selflessness and humility.”
Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer
“Speaker Boehner has dedicated twenty-four years of his life to public service and should be commended for his tireless dedication to his constituents in Ohio and to the American people as a whole. I would like to thank Speaker Boehner for his work and leadership in the 114th Congress. It was an honor to work with him during my first nine months in Washington.”
Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz
“While John and I don’t agree on every issue, we were often able to work together when we did agree. I believe Congress needs more people willing to work across the aisle, not less. At his core, Speaker Boehner believes in the promise of America and has served this institution with dignity for more than two decades. I will always be grateful to him for his help in passing the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act and I wish him well as he begins life outside of Congress.”
Democratic U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson (in his weekly newsletter):
"The Speaker and I were first elected to Congress in the same year, I've known him from the beginning, and while we don't agree on everything, Boehner is a legislator, he's here for the right reason, and tries to do what's best for the country. I think his departure is a great loss for Congress."
Updated
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