Boehner reelected Speaker of the House

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, enters the House of Representatives chamber, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, after surviving a roll call vote in the newly convened 113th Congress. He is escorted by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va., House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of Calif., and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Md. / AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Update 4:45 p.m. ET

Despite days of talk that John Boehner's future as Speaker of the House was in question, on the first day of the new 113th Congress, Boehner was reelected to his post without little drama.

Prior to the vote, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., nominated Boehner in a floor speech touting, among other things, his work to fight earmarks and his refusal to "kick the can down the road" on spending and tax issues.

Each member of the House was then called one-by-one in alphabetical order to publicly declare their vote for the next speaker. 220 Republicans voted for Boehner, 192 Democrats voted for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and 15 from both parties voted for others or abstained.

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Newly reelected Speaker Boehner addresses House

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Boehner administers oath to House members

Boehner's recent handling of the "fiscal cliff" angered conservatives, some of whom have always been reluctant to follow his lead, and his last-minute move to pull a superstorm Sandy disaster relief bill from the floor, a move that initially angered lawmakers from impacted states of New York and New Jersey, led to the most recent rumblings that Boehner might not win back the speakership.

But two moves Wednesday calmed down members of the Republican conference: he scheduled votes on the Sandy relief bill and, in a meeting with Republicans yesterday, he promised them he would stop dealing directly with President Obama in future fights.

A visibly emotional Boehner took the speaker's gavel atop of the House dais for the second time in his career. In his remarks, he said the country faces "extraordinary challenges," which he said requires "extraordinary leadership".

"It's a big job, and it comes with big challenges," he added. "Our government has built up too much debt. Our economy is not producing enough jobs. These are not separate problems".

A Boehner aide confirmed to CBS News that Mr. Obama, as well as former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, called the speaker today to congratulate him on his re-election. The president also called Pelosi and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., to wish the new Congress well, a senior administration official said. 

"The President thanked the two leaders, congratulated them and extended well wishes to all Members of the new Congress," said the official.

In addition to Boehner being reelected speaker, 84 new members - 49 Democrats and 35 Republicans - were sworn in. The elections slightly reduced the Republican hold in the House. The new partisan division consists of 233 Republicans and 200 Democrats. Two seats are vacant with the resignations of Tim Scott, R-S.C., who was appointed to the Senate, and Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., who is facing a federal investigation.

• Out with old, in with the new Congress
• Despite rancor, Boehner expected to stay on as Speaker of the House

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Best of Biden: "You're gonna be frisked" & more from swearing-in

At the same time, across the Capitol in the Senate, 13 new senators took the oath administered by Vice President Joe Biden. With the swearing in of new members, Democrats in the Senate increased their numbers. 53 Democrats, 45 Republicans and two independents who will caucus with the Democrats make up the new Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., fresh off a bitter battle over the "fiscal cliff" said, "Today, as we begin a new Congress, we are afforded the opportunity to reflect upon the successes and failures of the past Congress."

The new Congress will be the most diverse in history. For the first time, white men will be a minority in the House Democratic caucus, 81 women are in the new Congress (including a record 20 in the Senate) and six members are openly gay. The first Hindu, Buddhist and women combat veterans are also serving in this Congress.

Both bodies are expected to get to work immediately. Friday, the House will vote on $9 billion worth of aid for superstorm Sandy victims.

[WhereisOT]

Tears were a given....
With so many ready to stab any and all in the back...
No wonder there is tears...
Or are the tears shed only for him...

No matter...even though its the latter...
Hello bonehead...I ran for president...I lost....said romoney

[scorpio301]

Unfortunate outcome for the American people. Congress needs a leader. Mr. Boehner has shown he does not have this skill.

[seabass6251]

Which doesn't disprove his point. Matter of fact, the next four years will prove it to the yet to be born generations of Americans.

[pitai]

I read somewhere that he was reelected by his fellow Republicans on his promess NOT to negociate with the President.
Quite a great start for the new Congress, a sure sign of progress!Did I hear gridlock...

[seabass6251]

No compromise comes from both sides. Only libtards think Democrats are interested in compromising.

[quantum_analysis]

"former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, called the speaker today to congratulate him on his re-election."

------------------

What? mitt, who?

[Lindag20]

That must have been a nice call, from one loser to another.

[venusvegasvada]

Here we go again.

They should have called this the 112th Congress, Version 2.0

[nearl451]

There is a definition of insanity that comprises this leadership situation.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

joesapper says: This Boehner has Backbone...
---
Some confuse stubbornness with conviction...
Conviction gets you something while stubbornness costs you.

[TJphoto]

Mr. Boehner, I watched you on 60 minutes shedding tears on how you want to restore the American Dream. OK Now stand before the cameras and tell the American People that the Congress is not for sale, and at the same time tell the that a 32% cap on credit card interest rates is fair and in the interest of the electorate. You should know, you voted for it!

[joesapper]

This Boehner has Backbone , and it will show as he has America's Back on the economic stability front , America will win this one or Obamanomics will crush stability as credit down grades will drive up interest rates .

Obama must view Greece and Spain and others as his goal for America .

[dj_chi]

He constantly goes against the will of the majority of Americans, from student debt, to taxes and helping veterans. He has abandoned watching America's back long ago.

The people deserve someone who listens to them and he ain't it!

[jimatmadison]

At this point it's the Tea Party vs America.

The Dems will be asking for recorded votes on everything, and will hang those votes around the TPers' necks to drag them to the bottom where they belong.