A member of the House Republican leadership team said she doesn’t work for Speaker John Boehner John Andrew BoehnerLongtime House parliamentarian to step down Five things we learned from this year's primaries Bad blood between Pelosi, Meadows complicates coronavirus talks MORE, even though the Ohio Republican had helped raise money for her a day earlier.

At a “fair tax” rally back home, Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), vice chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, lamented to the crowd that it would be tough to pass a proposal that would replace income taxes with a national sales tax.

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When she was asked whether Boehner John Andrew BoehnerLongtime House parliamentarian to step down Five things we learned from this year's primaries Bad blood between Pelosi, Meadows complicates coronavirus talks MORE might bring up the fair tax plan for a floor vote, Jenkins replied, “We don’t really care what House leadership thinks anymore,” according to The Wichita Eagle.

She said 60 percent of House members are relatively new and did not serve in Congress when the Speaker had the ability to exert influence by doling out earmarks.

“I just want you all to know I don’t work for John Boehner. He works for me,” she said at the event in Wichita with Sen. Jerry Moran Gerald (Jerry) MoranLobbying world This World Suicide Prevention Day, let's recommit to protecting the lives of our veterans Hillicon Valley: Zuckerberg acknowledges failure to take down Kenosha military group despite warnings | Election officials push back against concerns over mail-in voting, drop boxes MORE (R-Kan.), a former member of the Senate GOP leadership team.

The timing of her remarks were odd. They came Tuesday, just a day after Boehner had visited Topeka to attend a fundraiser for Jenkins, the Topeka Capital Journal reported Thursday.

Nationally, grassroots conservative activists are increasingly frustrated the GOP establishment, illustrated by Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE's commanding lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Rank-and-file House Republicans have spent the summer recess fielding questions from reporters and constituents about whether they support Boehner remaining as Speaker.

Right before lawmakers' August recess began, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) introduced a resolution seeking to oust Boehner from the top job, claiming that he fails to listen to his members and has created a culture of punishment in the Capitol. The resolution never got a vote, but Meadows has said repeatedly that Boehner may still be vulnerable after lawmakers return to Washington next week.

A Boehner spokeswoman had no comment. Jenkins spokesman Jeffrey Levicki said Thursday that his boss's quote was taken out of context and she was trying to say fair tax supporters should focus on the vote total, not what Boehner and other House leaders collectively think.

“The Congresswoman strongly believes that as Congresswoman and Vice Chair of the Conference, she works for her constituents in Kansas and the Republican Conference, respectively, not the other way around,” Levicki said in a statement. “The same is true of Speaker Boehner.”

Jenkins, first elected to Congress in 2008, has served as vice chairwoman of the House GOP conference since January 2013. She frequently appears at weekly leadership news conferences with Boehner, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers Cathy McMorris RodgersHillicon Valley: Trump backs potential Microsoft, TikTok deal, sets September deadline | House Republicans request classified TikTok briefing | Facebook labels manipulated Pelosi video Top House Republicans request classified TikTok briefing More than 100 lawmakers urge IRS to resolve stimulus payment issues MORE (R-Wash.).

After she was reelected to her leadership job last fall, she pointed out in a news release that being conference chairwoman was the “fifth-highest ranking position in House Republican Leadership.”

Her remarks are also noteworthy because GOP leaders came to her rescue last fall when Jenkins appeared to be at risk of losing her Topeka-area seat. Top leaders were urging rank-and-file Republicans to cut checks to Jenkins a month before the November election after internal polling showed the race tightening, according to Politico.

She ended up defeating Democrat Margie Wakefield 57 percent to 38.6 percent.

- Updated at 3:19 pm.