Boehner Punishes Dissenters; Angers Conservatives

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, is reportedly reconsidering his punishment of lawmakers who voted against him as speaker this week.

Boehner and his allies removed two House members, Florida's Rep. Daniel Webster and Rep. Richard Nugent, from the powerful House Rules Committee after they cast votes against.

"All of us think they should have retribution," Boehner associate Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif, said. "They put the conservative agenda at risk with their wanting to be on television and radio."

But 23 conservative leaders, including former President Reagan's Attorney-General Ed Meese, have sent a letter to Boehner warning against retaliation.

According to The Politico, members of the Conservative Action Project wrote, "It is unacceptable and disappointing to see that some conservatives are already being punished by you and your leadership team for disagreements over policy and the direction of the conference. This must end immediately."

Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas, who received three votes for speaker, called Boehner "a sore winner."

"It's going to be real hard to bring the party together like they say they want to do," he added.

GOP lawmakers told The Washington Examiner that another congressman, Rep. Scott Garrett, R-N.J., could lose the chairmanship of a Financial Services subcommittee.

"If that happens, all hell is going to break loose," Rep. Matt Salmon, who voted for Boehner, said.

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., another Boehner supporter, said, "I'd rather be magnanimous in victory."

In all, 25 GOP lawmakers dissented against Boehner's speakership, the highest number of defections from the speaker's party since the Civil War.