John Andrew Boehner

Repeal the Affordable Care Act.

The House voted to repeal or substantially alter the ACA more than 50 times during Boehner's speakership, but none reached the President's desk. The ACA remained in force when Boehner resigned.

Reduce federal spending.

The Budget Control Act of 2011 (Pub.L. 112-25) and subsequent sequester reduced discretionary spending growth. The 2013 Bipartisan Budget Act partially rolled back sequester cuts. Total federal spending continued to grow in absolute terms.

Pass immigration reform.

Boehner declined to bring the Senate's Gang of Eight bill (S.744, passed June 27, 2013) to a House floor vote. The House passed no comprehensive immigration legislation during his speakership.

Pass appropriations bills on regular order.

Only one of 12 standalone appropriations bills passed both chambers during Boehner's speakership. All other FY budgets relied on continuing resolutions and omnibus packages, the practice he campaigned against.

Avoid government shutdowns.

The federal government shut down Oct 1-16, 2013 (16 days) over ACA defunding demands led by House Republicans. Boehner publicly opposed the shutdown strategy but allowed it to proceed.

Pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for the administration.

Boehner shepherded the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act (Pub.L. 114-26) to passage; signed June 29, 2015 with majority Republican support and minority Democratic support in the House.

Pass long-term highway and transportation reauthorization.

Multiple short-term extensions but no long-term reauthorization passed under Boehner. The FAST Act (Pub.L. 114-94, five-year reauthorization) was signed Dec 4, 2015 — five weeks after his resignation.

Reform entitlements.

The Ryan Path to Prosperity passed the House annually as a budget resolution but no Medicare/Social Security restructuring legislation reached the floor. No major entitlement-restructuring statute was signed.