By JM Rieger and Matt Fuller

At his weekly news conference Thursday, Speaker John A. Boehner said recent reports pointing to unity issues within the Republican conference are nothing more than “family squabbles.” Boehner’s remarks come as Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., was reinstated earlier as chairman of the Government Operations Subcommittee after being removed for voting against a rule to bring trade legislation to the House floor. “Well you know, like any family we have little squabbles from time to time, and we’re in the middle of one as we speak, and I’m confident that we’ll resolve our differences and move on,” Boehner said.