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Boehner says ouster play 'no big deal', Highway bill gets temporary fix

"You've got a member here and a member there who are off the reservation," Boehner said Wednesday.

By Doug G. Ware
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Boehner on Wednesday shrugged off a formal resolution presented in Congress Tuesday to remove him from his leadership post, which he has held since January 2011. Boehner said it was "no big deal." Photo: Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Boehner on Wednesday shrugged off a formal resolution presented in Congress Tuesday to remove him from his leadership post, which he has held since January 2011. Boehner said it was "no big deal." Photo: Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- The abrupt attempt this week to remove Rep. John Boehner as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives appears to have had a minimal effect on the Ohio Republican -- as lawmakers work toward a temporary solution to a looming deadline for the nation's transportation budget.

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., submitted a formal resolution Tuesday to ouster the House leader -- suggesting that the GOP's majority political power in Congress has severely waned under Boehner's leadership.

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Wednesday, though, Boehner brushed aside the scuttlebutt as "no big deal."

"It isn't even deserving of a vote," he said. "This is one member, all right? I have got broad support among my colleagues."

"You've got a member here and a member there who are off the reservation," he added.

And Boehner appears to be correct. Meadows' move has so far failed to result in any groundswell of support on Capitol Hill -- even among Republicans who may have been expected to support Boehner's departure.

"This is a distraction," Florida Rep. Dennis Ross said. "We don't need to create this rift right now."

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Meadows's resolution accuses Boehner of effectively bypassing the majority of Congress by centralizing decision making.

"The speaker has, through inaction, caused the power of Congress to atrophy, thereby making Congress subservient to the executive and judicial branches, diminishing the voice of the American people," it read.

The House Speaker since 2011, Boehner was elected to a third term by the House in January. However, his leadership has come into question for some Republicans in recent weeks -- amid issues like same sex marriage, the Affordable Care Act and fiscal management.

This week, the House has been working to renew the federal Highway Fund -- the spending budget for nationwide transportation-related expenses -- before it runs out of money Friday. Wednesday, House lawmakers passed a three-month extension but will need to pass a long-term solution by November.

The Senate is expected to approve the temporary fix Thursday.

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