GOP House Leadership Delivers Remarks

NOVEMBER 17, 2006

SPEAKERS: U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JOHN A. BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, 110TH CONGRESS

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ROY BLUNT (R-MO), HOUSE MINORITY WHIP, 110TH CONGRESS

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ADAM PUTNAM (R-FL), CHAIR, HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE, 110TH CONGRESS

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ERIC CANTOR (R-VA), HOUSE MINORITY CHIEF DEPUTY WHIP, 110TH CONGRESS

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE THADDEUS MCCOTTER (R-MI), CHAIR, HOUSE REPUBLICAN POLICY COMMITTEE, 110TH CONGRESS

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE KAY GRANGER (R-TX)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JOHN CARTER (R-TX)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TOM COLE (R-OK)

[*]

BOEHNER: Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to introduce the new Republican team is going to work together to earn our way back into the majority in two years.

I know, in my case, it's an honor to be chosen by your colleagues to be their leader. I pledged to them to do everything I could to bring our team together and to work hard so that we can earn our way back into the majority. And to do that means that we need to fight for a smaller, less costly and more accountable federal government.

But I think the key operative word here is that we're going to work as a team, and we are going to earn our way back into our majority.

Roy Blunt?

BLUNT: Thank you, Leader.

Certainly, the leader's staff, my staff have worked so well together the last 10 months. I look forward to seeing that continue and for our whole team to work as a unit.

No question that a week ago, 10 days ago we were disappointed as a conference, as individuals, as members of Congress.

BLUNT: There's also no question, in the last 10 days, our conference has come together with an appreciation for the opportunity to re-define who we are, to provide the kind of alternatives that we want to provide to look toward the future; frankly, to get rid of the bad habits that we may have developed in 12 years in the majority.

You know, it's not our job to defend business as usual; not our job to try to define the federal government in the biggest possible way.

We need to do the right things. Our conference is ready to do that. If you could have seen the difference in the week in what the members had to say, how the members felt, the optimism the members have about the future and this new leadership team behind me -- everybody speaking after the chief deputy whip, Eric Cantor, is going to be somebody who hasn't had that job before.

One of the reasons we're as cohesive as we are is the staff support we've had, the team support we've had and, in the whip's office, the great help of my good partner, Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor.

CANTOR: Roy, thank you. And it is really a terrific day for us and our party. We're coming out united. I think that really speaks for what our members believe in and what elected them back to Washington is a firm belief in common-sense, conservative principles that we will continue to expand upon and rally the American people around over the next two years.

It's a real honor to be a part of this team.

I want to now introduce to you our newly elected conference chair. The gentleman from Florida, who is a fresh new face, who's going to be a terrific advocate for the Republican cause, Adam Putnam.

(CROSSTALK)

PUTNAM: Thank you, Eric.

And today is the beginning of our march back to regain the trust and faith of the American people. And we will do that by offering them an agenda; we'll over them a choice and we will communicate that choice in a way that Americans from New England to the Southwest and from Florida all the way up to Seattle, Washington, can understand.

And they will know where we stand. They will hear as loudly and clearly. And they will see that we are a unified team, forward- looking, concerned about our future with a vision for a brighter tomorrow.

PUTNAM: And so we look forward to working with all of you in that effort as part of our communications efforts.

Thank you.

I'm also pleased to introduce another new member of the Republican leadership, a terrific, articulate advocate from the great state of Texas, Kay Granger.

GRANGER: Thank you very much.

What you see is a great team here. It's a wonderful mix of seasoned, experienced leadership and new faces with new ideas and new energy.

We've actually already started working. We started making our plans immediately after the election. So it's a great team to be with, and I'm very proud to be with them.

BOEHNER: Judge? Judge John Carter?

CARTER: I'm proud to be a part of a team that's going to give the direction and the goals of the Republican Party so that America can know what we stand for and what direction we think this country's going to -- needs to be led. I'm just glad to be a part of the team.

BOEHNER: Tom Cole (inaudible) chairman.

COLE: Thank you, Mr. Leader.

I'm looking forward to this contest and being part of this particular team. I don't think in the end that campaigns are about robocalls and attack ads. They're really about ideas and vision. And when you have that, you attract the candidates you need and the vision of a smaller, more conservative, more responsive government that gives the American people the freedom they want is the one we'll be running on in 2008. So I'm proud to have that opportunity to work with you.

BOEHNER: Thaddeus? Policy committee chairman, Thaddeus McCotter, from Michigan?

MCCOTTER: Thank you.

I just want to reaffirm our commitment that united, the Republican Party will rejuvenate our core principles and articulate beneficial policies for the consideration of the sovereign American people.

Thank you.

BOEHNER: Take a couple of questions.

QUESTION: How does this unified new team approach the issue of Iraq? It loomed large in the election. It loomed large in everything the House Democratic majority talked about yesterday. Where are you on Iraq? What should happen in the next six to 12 months?

BOEHNER: I think Republicans in the Congress want to win in Iraq. I think the president wants to win in Iraq. And most importantly, I think the American people want to win in Iraq.

And I think, with the Baker-Hamilton report coming out, we've got a new Pentagon secretary, defense secretary about to be confirmed -- we're looking for ways to win, because winning is the only option.

QUESTION: How do you define winning, Mr. Boehner?

BOEHNER: Winning is a free and stable Iraqi country, democratically elected, where they are able to secure the peace for themselves and they have a stable government.

QUESTION: What would you say to those who might say this leadership team is more continuity and familiarity instead of conservatism and reform?

BOEHNER: I think what the American people care about are: Who's going to hold down spending in Washington, who's going to cut their taxes, who's going to make sure that America is strong and can the defend itself and make sure that it's safe and secure for American families?

Thank you, all.

QUESTION: Mr. Leader, I hear that it is your birthday today.

BOEHNER: It is my birthday.

QUESTION: And I was told that it would be worth it to ask you to sing the Boehner birthday song.

(LAUGHTER)

BOEHNER: I don't think I should sing my birthday song on my birthday. But my friends know it. Some of them...

GROUP (SINGING IN UNISON): This is your birthday song; it does not last too long. Hey!

(LAUGHTER)

END

.ETX

Nov 17, 2006 12:49 ET .EOF

Source: CQ Transcriptions

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