Steve King: Boehner Canceled My Trip Abroad After DHS Shutdown Fight

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa speaks during the Freedom Summit, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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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“The order came down from the Speaker’s office ‘That shall be rescinded.’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.

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Notable Replies

  1. I find it hard to believe that Steve King can be diplomatic.

  2. Avatar for glans glans says:

    Where was he supposed to go? To what purpose? He could still go at his own expense, and then he could come back as a seasoned diplomat-legislator to challenge Boehner.

  3. Steve King diplomat? Give me a fucking break - he’s just pissed because his taxpayer funded junket got shitcanned. Of course we all know the vital role Iowa’s 4th District plays on the world stage. If Boehner had any balls he’d yank all those bomb-throwers’ committee assignments, make them move their offices to the crap they give freshmen, and give them the shittiest parking spots in town.

  4. Its not so much Congressman Orange was being vindictive. It was more nobody wanted to be seen sitting next to Goggles.

  5. STEve KIng HAd a Very IMPortant DIPLOMatic MISSIon to thE rePUBLic of the Côte d’AZur To deTerminE How the FREnch COUld INcorporate COrn-baSed fooD producTs into THE THEIr favorite fooDs INcluding French fries, FRencH toast and FrenCH Dressing.

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