“[I am] trying to catch my breath so I don’t refer to this maneuver going on today as a chicken crap, all right? But this is nonsense. The election was one month ago. We’re 23 months from the next election and the political games have already started trying to set up the next election.” - Speaker-designate John Boehner, 2 December 2010, speaking about the parlimentary procedures used to get a vote in the House on extending the Bush-era middle-class tax cut.
But just three short years ago he was singing a different tune:
“Sometimes we offer motions to recommit to improve legislation — sometimes it’s to force Democrats in marginal districts to make tough choices. Every time the Republicans win, it boosts morale. We’re able to show unity, which is good for the overall team. Members feel good about winning on the House floor. And when you’re in the minority, it doesn’t happen that often.” - Then-Minority Leader John Boehner, on using a parliamentary procedure to stick it to the majority and boost his party’s morale, 19 May 2007.
