At a House GOP caucus meeting, Congressman Paul Ryan said he will run and serve as House speaker if he can be a unity candidate. What does that mean? Ryan’s spokesman Brendan Buck writes in an email that Ryan will need “the endorsement of all the conference’s major caucuses” by Friday.
Ryan also made a handful of other requests, according to his spokesman:
Tonight, Congressman Ryan laid out to his colleagues why he believes we are in this situation and what he thinks is needed for us to move forward as a team.
He did not announce a final decision on the speakership, but he did discuss what’s necessary, in his view, for the next speaker to be successful.
First, he said our next speaker needs to be visionary: more focused on communicating our agenda and laying out big ideas. The next speaker needs to use the platform to create a clear policy choice for the country.
In addition, he told his colleagues that he encourages changes to our rules and procedures, but he also believes that those changes must be made as a team. They affect everyone, so everyone should have the opportunity for input.
As part of those rules changes, he believes there needs to be a change to the process for a motion to vacate the chair. No matter who is speaker, they cannot be successful with this weapon pointed at them all the time.
He also made clear that family comes first. And a successful speaker must be able to maintain a healthy work-family balance. Less time on the road can be compensated for with a greater focus on communicating our message to the public.
Finally, he believes that for the next speaker to be successful, we need to unify now. Unless the speaker is a unifying figure across the conference, he or she will face the same challenges that have beset our current leadership.
With that, Chairman Ryan encouraged the members to discuss and consider his requests, and he asked that they make clear whether they support them bythis Friday.
If the members agree with his requests and share his vision, and if he is a unity candidate—with the endorsement of all the conference’s major caucuses—then he will serve as speaker. He will be all in.
But if he is not a unifying figure for the conference, then he will not run and will be happy to continue serving as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
Chairman Ryan will make a statement to the press in CVC Studio A, following the conference meeting.
He did not announce a final decision on the speakership, but he did discuss what’s necessary, in his view, for the next speaker to be successful.
First, he said our next speaker needs to be visionary: more focused on communicating our agenda and laying out big ideas. The next speaker needs to use the platform to create a clear policy choice for the country.
In addition, he told his colleagues that he encourages changes to our rules and procedures, but he also believes that those changes must be made as a team. They affect everyone, so everyone should have the opportunity for input.
As part of those rules changes, he believes there needs to be a change to the process for a motion to vacate the chair. No matter who is speaker, they cannot be successful with this weapon pointed at them all the time.
He also made clear that family comes first. And a successful speaker must be able to maintain a healthy work-family balance. Less time on the road can be compensated for with a greater focus on communicating our message to the public.
Finally, he believes that for the next speaker to be successful, we need to unify now. Unless the speaker is a unifying figure across the conference, he or she will face the same challenges that have beset our current leadership.
With that, Chairman Ryan encouraged the members to discuss and consider his requests, and he asked that they make clear whether they support them bythis Friday.
If the members agree with his requests and share his vision, and if he is a unity candidate—with the endorsement of all the conference’s major caucuses—then he will serve as speaker. He will be all in.
But if he is not a unifying figure for the conference, then he will not run and will be happy to continue serving as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
Chairman Ryan will make a statement to the press in CVC Studio A, following the conference meeting.
