Rep. John Boehner (R.-Ohio.), chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, today announced his intent to become the next House majority leader. Boehner (lifetime American Conservative Union rating: 94%) has frequently been mentioned as a potential successor to Rep. Tom DeLay, who decided Saturday to permanently relinquish the job.
Along with Boehner, other candidates (with lifetime ACU ratings) might or already include:
- Rep. Roy Blunt (Mo.), currently serving as acting majority leader and majority whip; ACU rating: 94%
- Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee and the 2005 Human Events Man of the Year; ACU rating: 99%
- Rep. Tom Reynolds (N.Y.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee; ACU rating: 89%
- Rep. John Shadegg (Ariz.), chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee (No. 5 on leadership ladder); ACU rating: 98%
Here's a link to Boehner's letter to his GOP colleagues, in which he outlines his desire to restore "a vision of smaller, more accountable government and of a society deeply rooted in principles of personal responsibility, faith in the future, and freedom" that brought the GOP to power.
