Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Arizona Reps. Paul Gosar, Kyrsten Sinema Buck Party Leadership In House Speaker Vote; Boehner Survives By Skin Of Teeth

Arizona Reps. Paul Gosar (R-CD4) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-CD9) bucked their party leadership today in the usually-symbolic vote for Speaker of the House, while newcomers Martha McSally (R-CD2) and Ruben Gallego (D-CD3) cast their first votes for the leadership.

John Boehner did not receive votes from a majority of the House - 216 - but, it was a majority of those who cast a vote (408, out of 435).

Arizona's other 5 Reps. also voted for Boehner or Pelosi.  Rep. Matt Salmon (R-CD5), who was listed as one of the ones to watch as Boehner opponents tried to deny him a majority on the first round of voting, sat stoically silent when his name was called, but later cast his vote for Boehner. He was the 216th vote for Boehner (at a time when it was unclear what number he needed to reach).

Gosar had been one of the first Republicans to publicly announce his intention to vote against Boehner's continued Speakership.

Sinema cast her vote for long-time Rep and civil rights leader John Lewis (D-GA).  She was one of only four Democrats not to vote for Nancy Pelosi, and her Lewis vote followed in the 2011 footsteps of then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Sinema said after the vote: "Congressman Lewis has served with distinction for many years and is one of America’s true heroes. This year, which marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s march from Selma to Montgomery, makes Congressman Lewis’s contributions to equality and justice in our country even more poignant. The courage to take a principled stand for what is right is something I believe in deeply. I am proud of Congressman Lewis’s shared commitment and I was honored to cast my vote for him today.”



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