Republican Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner surprised Washington Friday by announcing his plan to resign from Congress.
The shocking news came as a result of a split within the Republican Party. Conservative Tea Party Republicans threatened to hold a floor vote to attempt to replace him if he did not support efforts to stop funding for Planned Parenthood at the risk of a government shutdown.
The 13 term congressman from Ohio said he originally planned to resign at the end of 2015, but chose to leave earlier to save his colleagues the confusion of the “prolonged leadership turmoil.”
Many conservatives cheered when they heard the news, but other Republicans in the House and Senate said they appreciated Boehner’s party loyalty during his five years as speaker.
“He is an ally, he’s a friend and he took over as Republican leader at a very difficult time for his party,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.
President Barack Obama has been in many political fights with Boehner over the years. “He is somebody who has been gracious,” the president said. “He’s somebody who understands that, in government … you don’t always get 100 percent of what you want.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called his resignation “a stark indication of the disarray of the House Republicans.”
The elections for new Republican leadership will most likely take place Nov. 1, with California congressman Kevin McCarthy an early pick to take over Boehner’s role.
Warm up questions
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How many people serve in the U.S. House of Representatives? How often are they up for reelection?
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What does the Speaker of the House do?
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What determines which party controls the House?
Critical thinking questions
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Why do you think Representative Boehner is stepping down?
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What does this resignation means for the Republican leadership in the House?
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Why do you think Boehner refused to go along with Tea Party Republicans’ efforts to shut down Planned Parenthood?
