Rep. Kaptur Statement on Resignation of House Speaker John Boehner

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) issued the following statement today following news that House Speaker John Boehner (OH-8) plans to resign from Congress:

"This morning’s surprising announcement by Speaker John Boehner follows an emotionally charged day when he introduced Pope Francis to a Joint Session of Congress. The Speaker, a Roman Catholic, was overcome by tears many times during the Pope's address.

‎Obviously, personal and political matters were resting very heavily on the Speaker's shoulders. It is truly unfortunate‎ that the disarray on the Republican side of the aisle characterized by their inability to compromise among themselves, much less with Democrats, has led to this historic resignation at a time when America's unfinished 2016 Budget and Appropriation bills place America at the edge of another unnecessary and irresponsible, Republican-led government shutdown.

The Speaker’s departure is a loss to the Buckeye State as the House is a place where seniority and the ability to balance competing and sometimes intractable demands matter. As dean of Ohio's "Buckeye" delegation, I‎ thank the Speaker for his dutiful and patriotic service to the people of the United States, and the House, for 25 years. May he and his family enjoy the time ahead as he returns to Ohio, relieved of the enormous pressures and vitriolic conflict to which his recent service, and our House, have been subjected.

May the words of Pope Francis encouraging dialogue and not rigidity permeate our House in the days and months ahead. ‎Though liberty is not without conflict, it cannot survive without compromise."

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