Indiana's Republican members of Congress issued mostly brief and respectful statements Friday about the resignation of House Speaker John Boehner, even though one had battled with Boehner in the past.
“There’s no doubt the Speaker presided over a difficult time in our nation’s history," reads a statement by Rep. Larry Buschon (R-8th), for whom Boehner had hosted fundraisers in the past.
Rep. Todd Rokita (R-4th), another longtime ally of Boehner, issued a terse statement thanking the outgoing House Speaker for his service.
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-3rd), who voted against Boehner as Speaker in January, did not mention that vote after Boehner told the Republican caucus of his decision, choosing instead to focus on Boehner’s positions on agriculture and education.
Stutzman had previously accused Boehner and Republican leadership of duping him into voting for an omnibus spending bill during the lame duck session last year. Stutzman was also dropped from the House Republican whip team for voting against the farm bill in 2013 and pressing Republicans to split the food stamp program from the Farm bill.
Rep. Susan Brooks (R-5th) credited Boehner with creating the largest congressional majorities for Republicans since the 1920s, and also lauded him for pushing to cut taxes and spending.