Boehner Supporting Pence for Conference Chair

House Minority Leader John Boehner is encouraging his colleagues to replace Adam Putman as Republican Conference Chair with the conservative Mike Pence.

"Mike Pence is a gifted communicator and a principled conservative who played a key role in helping House Republicans win the energy issue this year – an effort I believe must serve as a model for our Conference as we build a majority coalition issue by issue," Boehner said in a statement. "I've encouraged Mike to run for the job of Conference Chairman because there is no one in our ranks who does a better job of articulating the GOP message of freedom and smaller government, and he's also proven himself to be a team player with the ability to bring our members together. We need him at the leadership table in the 111th Congress."

Putnam said on Tuesday that he would not pursue another term as chair.

Current Republican Study Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling was rumored to be running for the conference chair position, but Hensarling is no longer considering the idea, according to reports.