Also among those watching today from the visitors’ gallery was Mitt Romney, whose decision in 2012 to make Ryan his running mate vaulted the Wisconsin congressman to national prominence.
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Rep. Paul D. Ryan is the new speaker of the House and he’s already signaling that things will be different under his leadership.
Rep. Ted Yoho of Florida was the lone Republican on Agriculture to vote against Ryan, opting instead for fellow Floridian Daniel Webster, who received nine votes.
A few Republicans say he isn’t conservative enough and his previous work on the budget committee means he shares a few of the responsibility for spending levels they say are unacceptable. During a meeting last week with the Freedom Caucus members, Ryan specifically assured them that he wouldn’t allow immigration reform legislation to move in the House unless it had majority GOP support.
Before his swearing in, Ryan called for greater unity among the factions in the House and a renewed vision for his party. Ryan pledged reform of the House rules and process, and afterwards he secured our party’s nomination.
At age 45, Ryan is the youngest speaker since 1869. By almost every measurement, Ryan will be the most conservative Speaker in history.
His predecessor, John Boehner, who held the position of speaker for almost five years, announced he would step down last month. The bloc of very conservative Republicans was instrumental in torpedoing the Speaker candidacy of Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
Boehner now plans to submit letters of resignation to both Ryan and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Pelosi hailed Boehner as the “personification of the American dream”, adding: “Although we had our differences, and often, I always respected his dedication to this House and his commitment to his values”.
“I look forward to working with him to maintain these promises that have been made to the American people”.
In 2008, he voted in favour of the India-US Civil Nuclear deal.
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While Ryan was giving his acceptance speech, Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY), the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, issued a statement saying his first official act as speaker should be to disband the GOP select committees on Benghazi and Planned Parenthood.
