House Speaker John Boehner vowed to keep the government open for business in the waning weeks of his term in office Sunday but warned against the “false prophets” in his party who hope to replace him.
“There are people out there spreading noise about how much can get done,” said Boehner, who abruptly announced Friday he would step down from Congress at the end of October.
“We have got groups here in town, members of the House and Senate here in town who whip people into a frenzy believing they can accomplish things that they know, they know are never going to happen,” he told CBS’s Face The Nation.
Boehner promised to work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to ensure the new leader isn’t left with a “dirty barn” and said Congress would set up a committee to investigate “horrific videos” from Planned Parenthood abortion clinics around the country.
Hard-line conservatives in the House hoped to shut down the government over the controversy and threatened to take out Boehner in the process.
Bohener bragged he could have wrangled 400 votes to remain in charge but it wasn’t worth the risk to his Republican lawmakers.
Boehner reiterated that Texas Senator Ted Cruz is a “jackass” and that he looked forward to doing more yoga once he left office.
Republican Presidential contenders couldn’t wait to bid him farewell.
“He may have served very well for that time, but this is a different time, and it’s time probably to move on,” said Ben Carson.
Donald Trump called the resignation “a good thing.”
“Someone else will come in and maybe they’ll have a tougher attitude,” he said Friday.