Speaker: Conservative groups ‘using’ Republicans, Americans
Source: Salt Lake Tribune
WASHINGTON - In an uncharacteristically forceful tone, House Speaker John A. Boehner on Wednesday lambasted the conservative advocacy groups that helped bring his party to power, saying their opposition to a bipartisan budget proposal amounted to an effort to manipulate Republicans and the American people "for their own goals."
The rare outburst from the often poker-faced speaker, a reversal of his past approach toward influential conservative groups, underscored long-simmering tensions between them and mainstream Republicans, who appear to be moving to re-establish their control over the party’s agenda.
The hard-line groups have bedeviled Boehner and his leadership team all year by opposing efforts to compromise with Democrats and influencing primary campaigns aimed at unseating establishment Republicans, whom they accuse of abandoning conservative ideals on controlling government spending.
Boehner’s words also reflected his apparent confidence that the recently announced $85 billion budget deal will be approved by the House this week despite attacks by conservative groups like Club for Growth and Heritage Action. Even if as many as 100 Republicans vote against it, as some predicted, Boehner is counting on Democrats to make up the shortfall, something he has been loath to do in the past.
Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/57252127-68/boehner-groups-conservative-budget.html.csp
Odd that this story appears in the Salt Lake City Tribune of all places.
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