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 Having stripped two dissident lawmakers from a powerful House
committee, Boehner hinted at a possible reversal, saying he was
engaged in a "family conversation" about the matter with House
Republican lawmakers.
"Because of some of the activities on the floor (Tuesday), two of
our members were not put back on the committee immediately," Boehner
told reporters after a contentious closed-door Republican meeting.
Boehner was referring to Representatives Daniel Webster and Rich
Nugent. On Tuesday, the Florida lawmakers were booted off the Rules
panel, which reviews all legislation before it goes to the House
floor.
Boehner said he would decide on the matter soon.
The uproar underscored deep divisions within Republican ranks at a
time when Boehner had hoped to celebrate his expanded House majority
and focus attention on joining forces with the new Republican
majority in the Senate.
 Boehner narrowly survived a challenge on Tuesday from 25
conservative Republicans in the biggest such intra-party rebellion
against a speaker candidate since 1859.
Webster and Nugent were among the 25 who either voted against
Boehner or merely voted "present." Webster was nominated for the
speaker's job and received a dozen votes.
Since becoming speaker in 2011, Boehner has faced a series of
internal challenges to his leadership, particularly on his handling
of budget matters in which small-government Tea Party Republicans
have demanded more aggressive confrontation of President Barack
Obama's agenda.
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In 2013, Boehner warned against a government shutdown, but Tea Party
lawmakers pushed a showdown over Obama's healthcare law that
resulted in a 16-day closure of the federal government.
A new battle looms as the House faces a deadline to pass a funding
bill for the Department of Homeland Security. Conservatives want to
use that measure to challenge Obama's executive order easing the
threat of deportation against undocumented immigrants.
During Wednesday's closed-door meeting, some Republicans were
"whining about they don't want retribution" against the rebels, said
Representative Devin Nunes of California, a Boehner ally.
Other lawmakers argued Boehner should "crack down" on the
dissidents, said Representative Phil Roe, a Tennessee conservative.
Roe said he thought Boehner was being "very magnanimous" by
reconsidering the decision against Webster and Nugent.
(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Bill Trott and
Tom Brown)
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