Roskam: Boehner move has caused a 'frantic race for position'
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam described the Republican leadership race in Congress as a "frantic race for position" that needs to slow down.
The Wheaton Republican called a meeting Tuesday about the future of the party following House Speaker John Boehner's announced retirement, arguing Boehner's departure is unusual because it was forced by fracturing among GOP lawmakers. Roskam says House Republicans should have a unified plan going forward.
"I think that we would be better off right now to spend the time doing this foundational work as a group as opposed to running for positions," Roskam said Tuesday. "Because you can run for a position and win a title, but unless you've got a better foundation underneath you, it's just a title."
Still, many are running to replace Boehner as speaker. Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California is seeking the spot, with Reps. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Tom Price of Georgia considered leading candidates for majority leader, the No. 2 position.
They are among top Republicans making phone calls and trying to amass support in the wake of Boehner's announcement in attempts to replace him or win the leadership spots just below speaker.
Is Roskam criticizing those campaigns?
"I'm not going to tell another member of Congress how they should interact," he said. "But I do know this, if we just go into a leadership election and don't deal with this issue, nothing good is going to happen," he said.
Later on Tuesday, Roskam said he had invited the "current and prospective leaders" to submit a written plan. "Our leaders will best serve our conference by bringing the fight to the administration and not reverse engineering from failure," he said.
Roskam was elected to represent the 6th Congressional District in 2006 and rose to become House Republicans' chief deputy whip. He lost a bid to move up to the No. 3 Republican job last year and confirmed Tuesday he hasn't officially begun a leadership run this time.
"I'm spending my time trying to do what I can to make this group functional and leadable," he said. "After that, then I'll make a decision moving forward."