Tea Party Lawmakers Complain About Rushed GOP Leadership Elections..Aww

WASHINGTON -- As House Republicans inch closer to deciding who they plan to support as their next majority leader, tea party-backed lawmakers are grumbling that they weren't given more time to field a candidate.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) set June 19 as the date for electing a successor for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who lost his primary race in a stunning upset on Tuesday night. Boehner announced the election date on Wednesday afternoon, right around the time that Cantor announced he would step down from his post July 31. But that was hours after two top Republicans had quietly begun building support in their bids for majority leader. A handful of other Republicans also launched bids for majority whip, another slot that may open up.

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said Thursday that snap elections are unfair because they "stack the decks," and said Boehner owes conservatives a chance to coalesce around a candidate opposed to any form of immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. King and likeminded members view such a pathway as granting "amnesty."

"We're asking for a delay on this vote so there's time for this conference to come to its senses and evaluate all the opportunities we have going forward," King told reporters. "In all of the leadership positions that are here, I will not vote in the affirmative for any candidate who has advocated for amnesty."

More at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/12/immigration-reform_n_5488889.html