"He’s the weakest Speaker in decades, so this will further cement the dysfunction"

The conservative opposition means Boehner and his lieutenants will open the 114th Congress with a divided conference, complicating their plans to challenge President Obama with a barrage of legislation.

The uprising could indicate that Boehner will have to continue to lean on Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democrats to get must-pass legislation across the finish line — even as he presides over the biggest House GOP majority since right after World War II.

“He’s the weakest Speaker in decades, so this will further cement the dysfunction ahead of several key cliffs that are coming this week,” said one Democratic leadership aide. “It’s not good news for them, and it means we’re going to have another series of manufactured crises.”

Given Republicans’ expanded 246-seat majority, Boehner allies said that internal dissension is to be expected. Public votes against a sitting Speaker, while unfortunate, are the new norm, they said.