Republican Representative Paul Ryan will replace retiring speaker of the U.S. House John Boehner.
Advertisement
While on different sides of the aisle, Pocan said Ryan is a “valued member” of their delegation, but the job as speaker has little to do with talent since the Tea Party will make it hard for anyone to do his or her job. Rep. Nancy Pelosi received 184 votes, Rep. Daniel Webster of Florida received nine, Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee received one, Rep. John Lewis of Georgia received one, and Colin Powell received one vote.
Ryan received an extended ovation and cheers from lawmakers and invited guests, including 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who chose Ryan to be his running mate.
Before Ryan’s election, Speaker Boehner, R-Ohio, delivered a brief farewell speech from the House floor Thursday morning, bringing a box of tissues to the dais.
“I congratulate Congressman Ryan on his election as speaker of the United States House of Representatives”, Congressman Cuellar said. I look forward to working with him to move the House forward for the American people. “But if we have a suspicion that there is a problem, there will be a group that now feels strong enough to stand up and say ‘If you think something is wrong, it is okay to speak out”.
“We wish him luck”, the board wrote.
“The people’s House is, in my view, the great embodiment of the American Dream”, said Boehner, telling his colleagues that for him, “it wasn’t so much a calling as it was a mission: a mission to strive for a smaller, less costly and more accountable government here in Washington”.
In the past, Garrett served as vice chairman of the House Budget Committee when Ryan was chairman.
Outgoing House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio arrives for a meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, October 28, 2015.
Paul Ryan was literally and figuratively embraced by his colleagues as he was about to be voted in as speaker.
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wisconsin, said he hoped the new speaker will put the needs of Wisconsin first.
“It’s not until you hold this gavel, stand in this spot, look out and see all 435 members of this House – as if all America is sitting right in front of you”, Ryan said in his acceptance speech.
The Wisconsin Republican repeatedly refused, citing his young family and his commitment to his influential job on the House’s tax-writing panel.
Advertisement
“Today is a historic day for the House of Representatives, as well as our nation as a whole”.
