WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. John Boehner, ousted from the Republican House leadership a dozen years ago, accepts the speaker's gavel Wednesday to lead the lower chamber.
With his 11 siblings watching from the chamber, Boehner will outline his plans for running the House and the goals that will receive his attention, The Hill reported.
The House must officially select Boehner as speaker. Most Democrats are expected to select Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and all Republicans are expected to support Boehner.
Boehner's speech will address spending cuts, and stress the need to create jobs and improve the nation's anemic economy, a GOP aide said.
The aide said Boehner, 61, will urge lawmakers to listen to voters and "abide by their will." The freshman GOP class has 82 members, the largest Republican class in nearly 90 years.
That Boehner will gavel in sessions and lead the majority party is something few pundits saw happening 12 years ago when Boehner was ousted as the No. 4 Republican in the House after the party did not meet expectations in the 1998 midterm elections.
Some thought Boehner would walk away but he eventually became chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, helping craft the landmark No Child Left Behind law. He defeated then-Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri to become majority leader and beat back two challenges after Democrats won the House in 2006 then padded their majority in 2008.
In an interview last year, Boehner said his leadership style was devoid of drama, The Hill reported.
"I don't yell. I don't do anger. I'm not dictatorial," Boehner said. "I know where I want to go and try to build consensus and support to achieve the goals we set". UPI
