There is the likelihood, however, that Boehner this month could advance a debt limit increase measure, whether the fight over his replacement is settled or not.
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If the Freedom Caucus had more power, the chances of a stalemate with the White House leading to something like a shutdown would increase.
Ryan has raised about $40 million for his campaign and leadership committees during his 17-year congressional career, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.
He said he would remain in his job until a new speaker was installed, an ironic outcome considering conservatives’ desire to shove him out the door.
The House has gone home for the weekend, without Republicans deciding on a choice for the new speaker.
The debate tangles the Constitution with obscure House rules and palace intrigue.
LISA DESJARDINS: Even conservative Jason Chaffetz of Utah, who’s running himself, said he would support Ryan.
“Paul Ryan is a good man. He’s a great communicator, the kind of messenger I think our party needs”.
The problem? Paul Ryan really, really does not want to become the next speaker.
Chaffetz called Ryan the “most qualified” person to be speaker, but said he hasn’t talked to him. This Republican demanded anonymity to discuss private considerations.
Following McCarthy’s withdrawal, conservative Republicans are rallying around Rep. Daniel Webster of Florida, while others in the party are pushing former vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan to run.
“Starting this morning, we’re looking for a consensus candidate”, Representative Darrell Issa told CNBC ahead of the meeting.
Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho agreed that it’s possible that he and other members of the House Freedom Caucus would support Ryan or others.
If Congress followed the radical views of the tea partyers who make up the so-called Freedom Caucus, the United States economy would be in chaos and its image in the world in free fall.
The most vocal of those Republicans has been Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), who pointed to centrist Republicans having to depend on Democratic votes recently to pass government funding, when only 91 Republicans were willing to vote to keep the government open.
“They think we should be more compromising”, said DesJarlais, noting that he must represent expectations from his constituents in Tennessee, which includes Rutherford County. “But I think he is a very good person”.
Many thought the Bakersfield Republican was the heir apparent to replace current Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who announced his resignation from the leadership post and the chamber after Pope Francis spoke to a joint session of Congress. It is speaker of the House, I mean, it’s a great position. Ryan had no comment following the gathering of GOP lawmakers earlier in the morning.
Oklahoma’s Tom Cole appealed to Ryan’s sense of duty.
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“Our disagreements tend to be tactical, not theological. What are we going to do so that every member of the conference feels they’re actually valuable and that they are doing the things they need to do?”
