Ryan accepted the role of House Speaker while speaking from the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, calling on members of Congress to unite and start a new chapter of progress moving forward.
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Before his swearing in, Ryan called for greater unity among the factions in the House and a renewed vision for his party. A neglected minority will gum up the works. He has united Republicans in the House and at the this moment in our history, he is the right man for the job. “I think history will be kind to him, but I think Paul does have a better ability to communicate”. According to the New York Times, it was only after a small group of conservatives blocked majority leader Kevin McCarthy’s path to the speakership that the 45-year-old Wisconsin congressman had a change of heart.
Although there is a new Speaker, the rest of the dynamics that have shaped congressional politics for the past few years remain the same – if Ryan is lucky, he’s wiped maybe 4 percent of the slate clean. He gained 236 of the 218 votes needed.
“The American people make this country work, and the House should work for them”, said the newly elected Speaker in a speech on the House floor.
Like fellow Floridians Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, and Ted Yoho, R-Gainesville, Clawson was one of just nine backing Webster when the entire House took the speaker vote on Thursday.
Ryan was the Republican nominee for vice president in 2012.
Ryan now moves to the number two succession spot for the presidency behind the vice president, a position he sought in 2012 as Mitt Romney’s running mate.
“Paul is being called”, Boehner said.
Republicans in the House of Representatives have nominated Ryan to become the chamber’s next speaker, hoping he can lead them out of weeks of disarray and point them toward accomplishments they can highlight in next year’s elections. We are adding to them.
Rep. Daniel Webster of Florida, a member of the Freedom Caucus who continued his bid after Ryan won the nomination of the Republican caucus, received those votes.
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Previously the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Ryan has served in Congress since 1999.
