#FireBoehner

[morgieb]

If the Republicans want to lose their house majority, I welcome them to fire Boehner.

[CatoMinor]

I just found out Amash was removed from the budget committee. Screw it, I officially support a movement to oust Boehner

[CatoMinor]

Who would be some possibilities for those 16 votes?

Amash, Huelskamp, Schweikert, Jones and Gohmert are the five most likely suspects... I guess the next tier after that would be people like Jim Jordan, Mick Mulvaney, Tom McClintock and other rebellious members of the RSC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Study_Committee

And Massie, Yoho, & Bentvolio

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

So what happens if there are also sixteen Republicans who refuse to vote for anyone except Boehner?

[CountryRoads]

I dislike Boehner with a passion, but i dont think this is good for the Conservative movement.

[Bacon King]

So I looked it up, and the rule/precedent is that the speaker has to win a majority of votes cast for people. In 1997, for example, Gingrich was reelected Speaker with less than an absolute majority of the chamber, due to abstentions.

This means two things-

1. the hypothetical rebellious congressmen need to actually cast a vote for someone (Congressman or not), not just vote present, for this to work.
2. Democrats can more easily manipulate the election because they won't even need to vote for Boehner, they only have to abstain.

Edit, source: this CRS report

[Meeker]

So I looked it up, and the rule/precedent is that the speaker has to win a majority of votes cast for people. In 1997, for example, Gingrich was reelected Speaker with less than an absolute majority of the chamber, due to abstentions.

This means two things-

1. the hypothetical rebellious congressmen need to actually cast a vote for someone (Congressman or not), not just vote present, for this to work.
2. Democrats can more easily manipulate the election because they won't even need to vote for Boehner, they only have to abstain.

Edit, source: this CRS report

I'm not sure #1 is true. If enough GOP members vote present, then Pelosi receives more votes than Boehner and she is elected Speaker.

[The Mikado]

So I looked it up, and the rule/precedent is that the speaker has to win a majority of votes cast for people. In 1997, for example, Gingrich was reelected Speaker with less than an absolute majority of the chamber, due to abstentions.

This means two things-

1. the hypothetical rebellious congressmen need to actually cast a vote for someone (Congressman or not), not just vote present, for this to work.
2. Democrats can more easily manipulate the election because they won't even need to vote for Boehner, they only have to abstain.

Edit, source: this CRS report

I'm not sure #1 is true. If enough GOP members vote present, then Pelosi receives more votes than Boehner and she is elected Speaker.

There's a pretty large gap there.  They'd need over 30 abstentions for that to be the case, while they'd only need 16 Republicans voting for someone else to gridlock it over and over until Boehner gives in.  The latter is far more likely.

[Meeker]

So I looked it up, and the rule/precedent is that the speaker has to win a majority of votes cast for people. In 1997, for example, Gingrich was reelected Speaker with less than an absolute majority of the chamber, due to abstentions.

This means two things-

1. the hypothetical rebellious congressmen need to actually cast a vote for someone (Congressman or not), not just vote present, for this to work.
2. Democrats can more easily manipulate the election because they won't even need to vote for Boehner, they only have to abstain.

Edit, source: this CRS report

I'm not sure #1 is true. If enough GOP members vote present, then Pelosi receives more votes than Boehner and she is elected Speaker.

There's a pretty large gap there.  They'd need over 30 abstentions for that to be the case, while they'd only need 16 Republicans voting for someone else to gridlock it over and over until Boehner gives in.  The latter is far more likely.

I suppose voting present would require more votes, yes. And it doesn't create gridlock, it just elects Nancy Pelosi.

[Mehmentum]

So what happens if there are also sixteen Republicans who refuse to vote for anyone except Boehner?

Boehner would try to strike a deal with the Dems to get some to vote for him.

Alternatively, it could go to a moderate (probably a moderate republican) who could cobble together enough Rs and Ds to get a majority.

[technical support]

Yes fire Boehner and bring back speaker Pelosi. She can get things done.