Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., was officially nominated by his fellow Republicans to be the next Speaker of the House Wednesday afternoon.
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The letter, dated Wednesday, states that the budget cuts agreed to in 2011 by a Senate controlled by Democrats in exchange for raising the debt ceiling would be rolled back by the deal despite now having a Republican majority.
“That’s good news for everybody”.
Graham said that under President Obama, “we’re being walked all over because our commander-in-chief is weak in the eyes of our enemies”, and he would tell his foes overseas to pick between his “clenched fist and an open hand”.
“A solid piece of legislation”, declared outgoing Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, who played a key role in engineering the accord after announcing his resignation last month following a quarter-century in Congress and almost five years in the speaker’s chair. These sorts of deals are never pretty, and it’s best if responsible people are the ones negotiating them away from television cameras. Taking command of the fractious House could make it harder for Ryan should he decide to run for president someday, with history showing just one speaker or ex-speaker ever reaching the White House – James Polk in 1844.
For his part, Ryan tried to have it both ways on the budget deal, criticizing it yet voting for it.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a presidential candidate, promised a filibuster, calling the package a capitulation that illustrates “why the grassroots Republicans are so angry with establishment Republicans”.
When Boehner was elected to his third term as speaker last January, 25 Republicans voted against him – the largest such revolt within a party in more than 100 years. “It ensures the full faith and credit of the United States – we will pay our bills on time”, said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat and his party’s ranking member on the House Budget Committee.
Approval would reduce the chance of partisan fights cascading into a federal shutdown or default, a relief to Republicans fearing such events would alienate voters.
A deeply divided House came together Wednesday to pass a two-year budget deal that local lawmakers greeted with a sigh of relief – not because of what the agreement does, but because of what it prevents.
“I think he can also swing a few people over who right now don’t think they’re conservative, but really are when they hear the issues”, Walhberg said.
“I don’t know a parent who would go to a restaurant, order a big meal, and then hand the bill to their young children”.
Republicans chose Ryan, 45, in a private meeting held in an office building adjacent to the Capitol. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal faced off Wednesday evening during the CNBC Republican debate for low-polling candidates.
Ryan won 200 votes from Republican colleagues, while his Republican opponent Daniel Webster of Florida received 43, according to lawmakers.
Boehner said he wasn’t aware of anything he could have done differently to deal with the House Freedom Caucus, the group of hard-line conservatives who pushed him toward the exits by threatening a floor vote on his speakership after complaining of his penchant for compromise.
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There was only slightly more suspense over the budget agreement.
