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Subscribe to RSSThe House will vote tomorrow to elect a Speaker of the House. While it is likely that Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) will be reelected, if 17 conservatives decide to vote against Boehner, it could lead to the first second ballot for speaker since 1923.
There are no indications Boehner will not be re-elected Speaker. While there will likely be members who vote against him, there is no real candidate that could garner enough votes to take Boehner down.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) leaves a House Republican Caucus meeting.
The 113th Congress will convene for the first time at noon Thursday, after which the House will vote to elect a speaker.
Members will be called by name alphabetically and asked for their vote. This vote is different than typical votes, which are done electronically during a set period of time.
The next speaker needs a majority of all votes cast to be elected. They do not need a majority of the full membership of the House. The 113th has 434 members because Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s seat will be vacant.
If all members were to vote, Boehner would need 218 votes, unless there are members who are absent for the vote or members who vote "present" (for no one).
Since 1913, the year the House reached the size of 435 members, there has only been one time that no candidate received the majority of the votes cast for speaker.
That was in 1923, when nine ballots over three days were needed before Rep. Frederick Gillett (R-MA) was reelected to the position for a third term.
The speaker does not have to be a member of Congress, but in the history of the House of Representatives there has never been a speaker who was not a member.
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) nominated Newt Gingrich this year during the Republican Conference meeting, but that nomination was not seconded, and Speaker Boehner was nominated by a voice vote (no objectors) to be the Republicans' nominee yet again. Democrats chose to have Nancy Pelosi as their nominee for Speaker of the House.
Between 1943 and 1995, only the nominated Republican and Democrat received votes, but before that, it was customary for members of other groups within parties would garner votes as well.
Since 1913, the speaker has been elected without a majority of the whole House, but with the majority of those voting, only four times:
-- 1917 (65th Congress) -- "Champ" Clark (D-MO) was elected with 217 votes;
-- 1923 (68th Congress) -- Frederick Gillett (R-MA) was elected with 215 votes;
-- 1943 (78th Congress) -- Sam Rayburn (D-TX) was elected with 217 votes;
-- 1997 (105th Congress) -- Newt Gingrich (R-GA) was elected with 216 votes
Recent speaker votes:
-- 2011 (Jan. 5th): Boehner 241, Pelosi 173, Shuler 11, Lewis (GA) 2 Costa 1, Cardoza 1, Cooper 1, Kaptur 1, Hoyer 1, Present 1
-- 2009 (Jan. 6th): Pelosi 255, Boehner 174
-- 2007 (Jan. 4th): Pelosi 233, Boehner 202
-- 2005 (Jan. 4th): Hastert 226, Pelosi 199, Murtha 1, Present 1
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THIS IS the problem with the GOP! no leaders, no new talent, no consensus, time for a new party! I never was a fan of the Euro three party approach, but I think there is now time and room for a third part on the right, and likely on the left too. 4 parties, but then that just puts us back into what we have now, a split and no clear winner. The Republican party has become petrified, and putrefied. And Bohner stinks as a leader and negotiator. IF you do ot have the votes, you cannot get what you want, go get the votes, get candidates who can and will vote conservative ideas and approach, When your side is afraid of the cliff, or the consequences, how can you stand your ground? you cannot! we need commitment to the principals, not worms. I think a future leader is the Gov. of Wisconsin. Rubio maybe, he at least stuck to his principal, but then he and Bennett! voted the way they did because they both KNEW it would not make a difference, and they could then claim the high ground on principal, they lost nothing, and gained everything. Bennett from Colorado is a liberal Wiesel, he could care less about spending cuts, but he knows the state is still balanced and he was playing to the red portion.
Who cares. We need a strong republican party and they have marginalized themselves. One pundit even blamed Obama for splitting them. I never thought I would see the day a conservative would concede that a democrat could do anything to them. They are completely dysfunctional and their record shows it.
"Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream". Find it on-line, watch and learn what and who our leaders care about. Politics in America has nothing to do with our society or individual needs. It is all about who has the most ($) at the end of the game. Our government will send trillions of dollars out of the country "to help" (read: influence) our fellow citizens of planet Earth, but argue over helping our families and neighbors in times of desperate need. Every time mother nature guts this country, it is a war over who gets what ($) and how best to take advantage, financially, of the pain and suffering of our fellow citizens. All we can depend on are each other and prepare for the time when we are sacrificed for the "good" of our political system.
Not deserving; no leader.
You talking about Boehner or Obama.
Seems there are a lot of people on here with a lot of extra time. I have 3 kids and a full-time job. It seems that being these people have more time than me that they could afford to give some of it up and come over to my house to mow my lawn or do some of the chores I may not have the time to do. Being they can "afford" the extra time, it is only fair that they give some it to those who can't, right????????????
we are all on welfare, and unemployment,permanent! stop using company resources to blog!
I hear Romney has some free time to do your lawn. Might have to explain what a lawn mower is to him. If there are any new taxes I won't have to worry when I get back to work(maybe at Walmart) I will be part of Romney's middle class making $250,000. I asked my wife since she is still working to check the bank account and I just can't figure where I'm spending her part of the 250,000.I look at the money I spend at the discount stores and buying food on sale and I have nothing left from the 250,000
The Republican party has become petrified, and putrefied! clean house. At least in DC, it seems strong at the State level, bring in new blood from the States.
Frankly, Washington DC needs to be sterilized. The House and Congress need to be cleaned!
will the real men please step up....
Yea he will probably get another 2 years but when the 2014 elections come around, he may be looking for a new position. I was a lifelong republican but after the last 4 years of republican bullsh** , I have changed parties. The death of the republican party,,,,film in 2014!
It's been two years of republican bu!!$hit. Prior to that it was four years of Democrat bu!!$hit.
Talk to the Hand That is why I laugh when both parties blam the other. They are VERY GOOD AT THAT! A shame they can't behave, act like mature adults, get down to business and do what they were elected to do! Rather than sit on their pompous asses, get paid exorbitant wages, and not pay attention to the needs of the people of this country! And some people wonder why we are the laughing stock of the planet! You need look no further than WASHINGTON DC! aka SINCITY!
Washington DC = The dirtiest, nastiest, most corrupt place on the planet!
I beleive that Boehner should be voted out as speaker of the house. He is a disgrace. He is the whole problem with the fiscal cliff and other votes , just because he dont like President Obama who the people of the US voted in for another 4 yrs. Then today I read the congress under his leader ship left town, going home to their families and highly priced homes without passing a bill for SANDY RELEIF...they are in their warm homes while thousands of people are without their homes, no heat etc, how can these reps live with them selves. Anyone in Congress or Senate that disagrees with the people want should not be relelected or impeached.
Aside from Obama, Boehner has the toughest job in DC.
Why do the republicons hate the United States and the American people so much?
After his shocking dereliction of duty on Sandy aid, he has permanently turned off the delegations in at least 2 states.
I think Rep. Peter King should form a coalition with other GOP House members in areas affected by Sandy. They should threaten to caucus with Democrats if Boehner remains as Speaker.
You only need the shift of 17 Reps to change the balance of power. I think that Boehner's actions deserve this type of response. The man is a disgrace to the Speakership.
Boehner with the cards he was dealt! Now that this has been done he now has to show his party what he is made of. No more taxes in the future and we better damn well see the cuts. GOT IT!
SOMEBODY come up with a better candidate that Boehner! Surely, there is one other Republican in the House that could do a better job representing his/her constituency ( or, more importantly, the American people) than Boehner, one who would not stoop to help his fellow Republicans who are suffering (never mind ALL of those suffering because of "Sandy").
I don't like Boehner, but my God, look what he is working with. a bunch of petulant tea party zealots who are not willing to look at facts and help a situation, they are only interested in their tiny minded arrogance. until the tea party is thoroughly rebuked by the Republican Party and the normal moderate Republicans come together, there will be problems in the GOP and thus in the rest if America - I have been a Democrat all my long life and I never remember so much animosity.
I don't think I'd like "Mr. Boner" to be my speaker.
Republicans surrounded by drama? Oh say it is not so! MCain, Palin, Bachman, West, the clown drama show begins a new year. Happy New Year!
Eric Cantor is the only Rep. with the balls to do what he says he's going to do. Boehmer has been a failure from day one. He's just another Obama "SHEEPLE". More out of control spending and WHAT?? 53billion in spending cuts in the next 10 years???????? Liberals are a joke. America borrows 100 billion dollars every month. 53 billion in spending cuts???????? Liberalism is a disease!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it has destroyed our once great nation. Our country is ruled by a "Ship of FOOLS" in Washington, and WEAK minded followers that keep them in office!!!!!!!!
Hey, there's a first time for everything, right? Just think, the GOP-controlled House can finally formally give Grover Norquist the job he already had!
Impeach Boehner and dont relect any rep or senator that does vote for the people they represent.
Cast him to the street he is worthless to the American people !
Boehner has the toughest job in Washington right now because you have a president that knows nothing about leading, plain and simple. He sure knows how to blame and that is not what a leader does let alone divide. If we were back in time during world war two with this man at the helm, folks we would no longer be the USA.
The Left and their Old Media amplifiers tell a simple story: George Bush inherited from Bill Clinton a strong economy and a balanced budget. He proceeded to commit national arson by deregulating Wall Street, cutting taxes for the rich, and fighting two needless wars.
The long fuse of Bush’s fiscal folly finally struck dynamite in late 2008, blowing Clinton’s Camelot economy to bits. President Obama has struggled boldly—against Republican obstruction-- to fix problems so bad not even a modest genius like Bill Clinton could have fixed them in a single term. Clinton modestly admitted this in his convention keynote. So, steady on the transformational path. It’s the only way Forward to redistribution paradise and state allocated happiness.
why can't people see this...is it so hard to understand....
we will be paying for the Bush's free for all for many, many years to come....
How can someone so bad be re-elected?....Obama got re-elected and he is the worst pres. ever..so of course (Boner), bone head is going to be re-elected.
I have no affiliation to any party. I will not allow myself to do that. But I cannot agreed that Obama is the worst president. I believe Bush was and I think as time passes, history will show that as well. As citizens we elect incompetetnt people, yet both Bush & Obama (in opposing parties) BOTH managed to get elected to two terms...
WHAT THE HELL ARE WE THINKING???
One must look at the realities and as a business owner, I'd toss BONER and CANTORWONTdoit out onthe asses along with the trash!
WHEN are the American people going to DEMAND we have a WORKING HOUSE & CONGRESS
DEDICATED AND LOYAL
to the COUNTRY and it's people, rather than their own agendas and pockets?
Having Boner reelected as Speaker is SURELY the course to further trouble and a lack of cooperation between both parties which will ultimately result in NOTHING GETTING DONE!
BONER's crying needs to be sent off to a good psychiatrist and he needs to be replaced with someone COMPETENT, FAIR and who has the ability to be flexible and cooperative.
That said in my humble opinion.
Well 4 more years of government crap but Boehner and his ineffective republicans will just put the blame on the president. He is not for the people just ask the victims in NY and NJ
GET RID of the bad trash! Both BONER and Cantor suck!
He needs to do alcohol rehab first.
Rehab is for quitters. ;)