releases: http://yoho.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/jones-bill-strips-former-speakers-of-perks
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://yoho.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/jones-bill-strips-former-speakers-of-perks | Jones bill strips former speakers of perks | 2015-12-10 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | FL | Ted Yoho | Y000065 | yoho.house.gov | legacy | Posted Dec. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM Nov. 2, Paul Ryan gaveled in the U.S. House of Representatives on his first day as speaker. Wednesday, three congressmen filed a bill to make sure former House Speaker John Boehner doesnt get the same five years of perks afforded the past eight speakers, back to former Massachusetts Rep. John McCormack, who left the office in 1971. Third District Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., introduced the measure at a news conference outside the Capitol on Wednesday morning, joined by Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie. Florida Republican Ted Yoho also signed on as an original co-sponsor of the bill. My father was sworn into the U.S. Congress in 1966 I was fortunate enough to be here because of a special election he won, Jones said in a video of the news conference that was posted by his office to YouTube. I was in the office of a wonderful American named John McCormack. Mr. McCormack served for 42 years (and) as speaker of the House. McCormacks the lesser-known Democratic speaker who came between Texan Sam Rayburn who served 1955-61 and while the House switched between partisan majorities, 1940-47 and 1949-53 and Oklahoman Carl Albert. When he left is when this became a reality, Jones said. Meaning, they gave him the opportunity to have an office to finish his service . Well, John McCormack wasnt obligated to special interests, like our speakers today are obligated to special interests. John McCormack was not going to leave Washington and go write a book. John McCormack was not going to Florida and play golf. John McCormack, quite frankly, was a wonderful man who cared more about the people than making special interests happy. So today, Thomas Massie and Ted Yoho and I are putting this bill in because we believe that the taxpayers should not be paying for an office, for a speaker of the House, whether they be Republican or Democrat. If the bill doesnt gain traction with the House GOP leadership something that Jones called questionable Jones said he, Massie and Yoho may attempt to bypass the committee process and attach the legislation to another bill in the spring as an amendment, as a way to bring the proposal before the full House. Im confident that when we get this legislation to the floor, every member of Congress will vote with us to eliminate this waste of taxpayer dollars, Massie said in a statement. This weeks omnibus presents an immediate opportunity to defund the ex-speakers office, but the most probable vehicle is an amendment containing Mr. Jones legislation, that we can offer next summer during the appropriations debate. Jones alleged former Speaker Dennis Hastert spent $1.9 million over his five years, and couldve run up the bill to $4 million. At the time, Hastert received a substantial income as a lobbyist. Hes since made a plea deal regarding illegal bank transactions he made to cover up and pay off a man who blackmailed the Illinois Republican, threatening to make public allegations that Hastert molested him while the former speaker was a teacher and coach at Yorkville High School in the 1960s. Hasterts scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 29. Reading off prepared notes, Jones said during those years, former speakers have available to them office space in the Longworth House Office Building, three administrative assistants each with six-figure salaries, complete furnishings, mail franking privileges, regular office operations and other staff assistance. I guess theyre going to pay for his toilet tissue, too, Jones said. The he, in this matter, is Boehner, for whom there was no love lost as the Ohio Republican ended his term, sparked by an internal GOP revolt from members of the House Freedom Caucus and their allies. The relationship soured to such a point following the 2012 elections Boehner kicked Jones out of a top assignment with the House Financial Services Committee amid other retributive measures directed at House Republicans who bucked the party leadership. Jones faces Taylor Griffin, former Treasury Department staffer during the George W. Bush administration and political consultant, and former Marine Phil Law for the 3rd District Republican nomination in March. Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @WesWolfeKFP. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |