GOP divided over handling Boehner opposers

The House GOP is divided over how to deal with 25 Republicans who opposed Rep. John Boehner’s bid for a third term as Speaker of the House.

The Hill spoke with lawmakers on both sides of the thorny issue.

Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) believes the defectors should be shown leniency.

{mosads}“I think that there’s been a lot of tension with this last vote. I think it would only create more if there’s punishment. I think we should let it go. People have voiced their opinion — let’s put that behind us, let’s work together,” Duffy said in an interview with The Hill.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) has the polar opposite view, saying the defectors should be shown no mercy.

“Listen this is serious business and if you want to undermine the Speaker of the House — the third-highest elected official in the country — on the day that he’s being nominated, there has to be consequences to that,” King said.

Listen to the lawmakers’ full comments in our video interviews.