Rep. Steve King (R-IA) claimed on Monday that House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) canceled King’s upcoming diplomatic trip following House Republicans’ battle over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
King pushed for an amendment to the funding bill that would have restricted President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, but Boehner ultimately proposed legislation that did not address immigration. King claimed Boehner punished those who did not vote for the “clean” funding bill.
“Now we have the Speaker’s retribution. He’s apparently throwing tantrums,” King told radio host Simon Conway in an interview highlighted by Roll Call.
King told Conway that “a very important diplomatic mission” he was scheduled to go on was canceled on Monday by Boehner.
“The order came down from the Speaker’s office ‘That shall be rescinded.’ And apparently the people who he most objects to for disagreeing with him are now grounded to the United States of America by order of the Speaker,” he said. “This is retribution on the highest scale I’ve ever heard of.”
The congressman also said that after Boehner’s move on the DHS funding bill, the “appetite is growing” in the House to challenge his speakership. King did not vote for Boehner as Speaker in January.
Boehner’s office declined to comment.
This post has been updated.
