Boehner Acknowledges 'Couple of Stumbles' with GOP-Led Congress - East Idaho News
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Boehner Acknowledges ‘Couple of Stumbles’ with GOP-Led Congress

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Getty USCapitol?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1422383586488iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — After pulling two bills from the floor in the past week that lacked enough Republican support to pass, House Speaker John Boehner acknowledged “a couple of stumbles” early on in the new congressional majority.

“We wanted to get off to a fast start this year and as a result, taken bills that have passed in the past and put other bills together in spite of the fact that committees in many cases have not had their organizational meetings,” Boehner, R-Ohio, explained Tuesday. “Yeah, there have been a couple of stumbles — all in our effort to show the American people that we’re here to listen to their priorities.”

Last week, House Republican leaders pulled a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks. On Monday, leadership pulled a bill to beef up security along the southern border.

“It’s all about working with our members, listening to our members, and working through what are some very difficult issues,” Boehner stressed.

So far, Republicans face nine presidential veto threats, including the House’s bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of the fiscal year. A bill is due on the president’s desk by the end of February.

Boehner refused to reveal how the House may proceed if the Senate rejects the House-passed bill, where it does not appear Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has 60 votes to pass it.

“Well there’s no reason for me to speculate on what we will or won’t do,” Boehner said. “At this point it’s up to the Senate to act and I expect that they will soon.”

As for critics who contend Boehner broke protocol when he invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress, Boehner boasted that he was within his constitutional rights to extend the offer.

“The House of Representatives is an equal branch of the government and we had a right to do it and we did it,” Boehner said. “And I’m frankly proud of the fact that the prime minister has accepted our invitation and will be here on March 3rd to talk to the members of Congress about the serious threat that Iran poses and the serious threat of radical Islam.”


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