US House Speaker Boehner to step down next month

House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) shocked Republicans Friday morning when he annnunced that he will resign at the end of October after a five-year reign – thereby averting a shutdown of federal agencies. He faced a revolt of more than 30 Republicans, who threatened to force a non-confidence vote in the speaker on this issue.  It is unclear whether Boehner is just resigning the post or his House seat as well.
Following Boehner’s announcement, House Republicans said there was agreement to pass a clean spending bill to avert a government shutdown. Several members of the Freedom Caucus, the conservative group which led the revolt against Boehner’s leadership, said they will now support the spending bill without demands to defund the Planned Parenthood attached to it.