Conservatives in the House have some reservations about electing Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to lead their chamber. However, they said on Sunday, they are open to the possibility, if Ryan works with them on process changes they are seeking.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who leads the conservative House Freedom Caucus, called Ryan a “friend,” even if his group wasn’t ready to endorse him yet.
“As I’ve said before, Paul Ryan is a friend,” Jordan said on “Fox News Sunday.” “I meet with him every single week. We talk about policy. I think he’d be a great messenger. He’ll come in front of our group and talk to us. I think our group would be favorable towards him. But we’re not there yet.”
The next speaker of the House, Jordan said, should be ready to fight more than Republicans have in the past.
“Let’s not forfeit before the game starts. Let’s establish our position, let’s come together and compromise, figure out where 247 Republicans, what we can agree on,” Jordan said. “And then let us go stand for our position, let’s articulate that, have the debate in a compelling way, take the case to the White House, take the case to the United States Senate. That’s what our voters expect.”
Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., a member of the caucus, echoed Jordan’s comments in an appearance on Fox News later in the day. “I have some reservations about Paul, particularly with respect to amnesty for illegal aliens,” Brooks said, referencing Ryan’s support for legislation that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants.
“So Paul is going to have to change his position a bit, but Paul is a charismatic individual, he knows how to raise the money, he knows how to communicate, so he’s got some real strengths too, but the immigration stances he’s taken in the past, he would to have to assure people like myself that those would not be forced through the House of Representatives if he became the speaker of the House.”
The eventual speaker must win 218 votes in an election to be held Oct. 29. There are 247 Republicans in the House, which means that an eventual winner could afford to lose 29 Republicans. The approximately 40 members of the House Freedom Caucus endorsed House speaker candidate Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., before Leader Kevin McCarthy abruptly exited the race Thursday. Webster needed 80 percent support from the caucus to garner their endorsement. The Freedom caucus has said they will use the same criteria and interview any other speaker candidates should they decide to enter the race.
