Texas GOP Congressman Refuses To Support Boehner, Offers Harsh Words For Speaker

The sharp clashes inside the Republican ranks in Washington, D.C. are now starting to spill over much more into public view.

In the latest twist, Congressman-elect Steve Stockman of Texas announced Wednesday that he would oppose House Speaker John Boehner’s plans to remain as Speaker. Stockman won election back in 1994 in the class that installed Newt Gingrich in as Speaker, and he served one term. Stockman recently won his seat back in the Lone Star State.

“This is not something I do lightly, but out of bedrock conservative principle and a dire need to save this nation from its current course,” Stockman said in a statement on Boehner. “We cannot tolerate betrayal of conservative principle and economic reality. I have known Congressman Boehner since I first came to the House in 1995.  He is a decent man.  But I have sharp disagreements with the manner in which he has handled President Obama and House conservatives.  While he is all too eager to favorably negotiate with a liberal White House that has outmaneuvered him at every turn, he has been harsh and punitive in dealing with conservatives.”
“He has given President Obama billions in increased taxes, while unceremoniously booting conservatives from key committees without so much as the courtesy of a face-to-face meeting.  Past Republican leaders, such as Tom DeLay, at least had the decency to directly tell you they were punishing you for voicing conservative principles.

“The ‘fiscal cliff’ spending package negotiated by Congressman Boehner was the final, unacceptable straw. It raises taxes on more than 80 percent of families with combined incomes between $50,000 and $200,000 by an average of $1,635, while dealing special-interest tax breaks to Hollywood leftists, algae growers and millionaire wind corporations. It raises 41 dollars in taxes for every $1 in spending reductions, with no agreement to halt planned new spending of any theoretical tax revenues. The Congressional Budget Office finds it will add nearly $4 trillion to our job-killing deficit.

“Each time our nation’s fiscal policies have been up for debate, Congressman Boehner has told Americans they’ll get spending cuts ‘next time.’ Enough is enough. There cannot be another ‘next time’ for fiscal responsibility, or Congressman Boehner.  His acquiescence has only emboldened the liberal drive for more expensive government.  Congressman Boehner has allowed Obama use to class warfare rhetoric to split the Congress.

“In short, Congressman Boehner signed our country on to a fiscal suicide pact.

“Unless there is drastic change to the United States’ taxation and spending trajectories our government will become insolvent and our economy will collapse.  Obama’s 50.8 percent of the vote is not a mandate for higher taxes and more spending that majorities of Americans oppose.

“Removing Congressman Boehner is only the first step on a long journey back to our constitutional foundations. I didn’t come to Congress to collect a pension. I came to Congress to restore limited government. I look forward to this fight and I will continue to uphold my conservative principles and my sworn oath to the Constitution.”