GOP yanks bill that would allow Confederate flags in U.S. cemeteries

Following ongoing protests over the displaying of the Confederate flag — which some believe to be a racist symbol — the GOP unexpectedly pulled an environmental spending bill from the House floor Thursday that included an amendment that would have allowed Confederate flags to be displayed at federal cemeteries. The reversal came just hours after the South Carolina House voted to remove the Confederate flag from the state's Capitol.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) also called for "an informal bipartisan group" to review Confederate memorabilia and symbols in the U.S. Capitol. The group will be responsible for reviewing Confederate symbol issues that arise in annual federal government spending bills, removing discussions from the floor.

“I actually think it's time for some adults here in the Congress to actually sit down and have a conversation about how to address this issue," Boehner said at a Thursday news conference. "I do not want this to become some political football.”

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