U.S. House Speaker John Boehner Will Resign

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who faced scrutiny from conservatives over policy issues, announced his resignation Friday during a Republican conference meeting.

A flurry of reports hit the newswire when Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Michigan, tweeted: “Speaker Boehner just announced in Conference that he will resign as Speaker and from Congress at the end of October” on Friday morning.

According to multiple reports, Boehner will resign his congressional seat and House leadership role effective at the end of October. The resignation comes one day after Pope Francis addressed Congress on a trip throughout the United States.

Boehner, who was first elected to Congress in 1990, was re-elected to his 13th term in November 2014. He became Speaker of the House in 2011.

Talk Business & Politics has reached out for comment to all four of Arkansas’ Congressional offices.

Cong. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, said:

“Speaker Boehner’s service to our country should be applauded as it should for anyone who seeks elected office on behalf of the people they represent. While this news was sudden and somewhat unexpected, I will carefully assess those who are seeking leadership positions within our conference to ensure that they have the shared goals of addressing in a meaningful way our growing national debt, along with working to prioritize federal spending in a way that address our most critical needs and recognizes our limited resources.”

Cong. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, said:

“John Boehner is a great man with arguably the most difficult job in public service, and in spite of that, he has led with distinction and compassion during a period of great difficulty.  He loves our members, the institution, and our country.  It shows.  I thank him for doing this tireless job and wish him the best in his retirement.”

Cong. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, offered this statement:

“In an emotional conference meeting, Speaker Boehner said that he loves the Republican House Conference, he loves the House of Representatives, and he loves America. He said that in the best interest of all, it was time for him to make this decision. I want to thank Speaker Boehner for his service to the citizens of Ohio and the United States. This was no doubt a tough decision for the Speaker to make and I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

Cong. French Hill, R-Little Rock, said:

“John Boehner is a dedicated representative of the people of Ohio and a good man. I am grateful for his work and leadership in Congress. Now, our party is faced with the challenge of identifying a solid conservative who is ready to lead us in our mission to reduce the size of government and promote an economic environment where all Americans can prosper. I know John and his wife, Debbie, are excited to spend more time with their first grandchild, and I wish them all the best as they transition into the next stage of their lives.”