RSC Chairman Jim Jordan: Boehner Purge 'Unhealthy for Our Party'

Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, the chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, responded harshly to House Speaker John Boehner’s purge of conservative Republicans from powerful House committees. Jordan suggests Boehner’s moves could damage the Republican Party.

“It’s unfortunate and unhealthy for our party that principled conservatives are being punished for voting their consciences and keeping the promises they made to their constituents,” Jordan told Breitbart News.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Tuesday threatened GOP leadership, too, that this behavior “won’t be forgotten come 2014.”

“We send good conservatives to D.C. to fulfill the promises they made to the electorate, and yet when they stay true to their word the permanent political class in their own party punishes them,” Palin lamented.

On Monday, Boehner pulled conservative GOP Reps. Tim Huelskamp of Kansas and Justin Amash of Michigan from the House Budget Committee. The Speaker also removed conservative Republican Reps. David Schweikert of Arizona and Walter Jones of North Carolina from the House Financial Services Committee.

The members believe they were pulled from those committee assignments – from which they would be able to influence fiscal policy – because they have solid conservative voting records.

While Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith brushed their concerns off by implying the moves were merely procedural, an anonymous GOP leadership aide said this was indeed retaliation against conservatives.

“You want good things in Congress and to have a good career? Better play along nicely,” the anonymous GOP aide told Roll Call.

Jordan won’t be the RSC chairman in the next Congress. Louisiana Republican Rep. Steve Scalise is slated to take the mantle of the conservative caucus.