Majority Leader Boehner

The GOP House Caucus elected Congressman John Boehner of Ohio as majority leader last week. My first choice would have been Congressman Shadegg of Arizona, the purer small-government and reform-minded Republican of the three candidates. However Congressman Boehner was my clear second choice, miles ahead of the third candidate and assumed favorite, Majority Whip Blunt, whose ascension from whip to leader would have signaled nothing but a troubling complacency and satisfaction with the status quo among House Republicans.

Congressman Boehner’s victory is almost certainly a result of the realization among House Republicans that they can no longer get away with the status quo; but they in no way desire the wholesale upheaval Congressman Shadegg’s ascension to the top post would have entailed. Their compromise was John Boehner. The boat had to be rocked, they figured Congressman Boehner will rock it the least.

To Congressman Boehner’s credit though, he has embraced reform every step of the way. He has opposed the embarrassing prevalence of earmarks in the legislative process and has never personally employed the earmark tactic on behalf of his district. Moreover, he has proposed a comprehensive plan for getting the Republican majority back on track in the House.

The caucus had grown stagnant under the prior leadership and hopefully Congressman Boehner’s leadership will reinvigorate the Republican majority and shatter the legislative logjam that has descended upon the House and the capitol. A great tragedy it will be to have a working majority and do virtually nothing with it. It is now tasked to Majority Leader Boehner to stave off such a calamity.