The expected Republican nominee for Speaker of the House pulled out of the race Thursday, leaving many in the party wondering who’ll be the chamber’s next leader.
Advertisement
“That means he would need to walk into the room with the [moderate] Tuesday Morning Group, the mainstream conservatives [of the Republican Study Committee, of which he is a member] or the Freedom Caucus and show every member the proper respect he or she is entitled to by being elected”, he said.
The emergence of Ryan overshadows other possible Republican contenders for the speaker’s gavel – including those from Texas.
He also did not express hope that anyone could corral the House Republican caucus, which has been thrown into turmoil by the conservative House Freedom Caucus.
When considering any Speaker candidate, “you got to look at where they’re coming from, where they’re going”, Horowitz explained. “And the speakership demands both the clarity of vision to delineate Republican principles and the fortitude to aggressively reach out for Democratic votes”. First, the modern Republican Party is a post-policy enterprise, which doesn’t do real solutions to real problems.
“This place has got to change”, he added.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, weighed in on the House leadership race, calling Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) “a reasonable guy”. “We have a gulf and a divide that needs to be bridged”. “I do think there are other people that are better qualified, but I do think I’d bridge that gap”.
Taking the time to build consensus within the Republican conference now for a speaker candidate who can get between 225 to 235 votes is preferable to coming out of the conference with someone who has fewer than 218, according to Jenkins. “However, if Congressman Paul Ryan runs, (Flores) will step aside and support him”.
“I do agree with Rep. McCarthy that it’s going to have to be someone that unifies the party”, Wing said, “And it will be someone that unifies the party”.
Katko acknowledged it can be challenging to get things done in the current environment, but he feels members are doing a good job of balancing their work with the House leadership discussions.
Republicans should consider persuading Boehner to rescind his resignation, and then pledge him their unified support in helping position the GOP to reclaim the White House in 2016. “It’s tough when you have 200 [other GOP legislators] glaring at you…but what they need to remember is the people are with them”.
On defunding Planned Parenthood, House Freedom Caucus members oppose any spending bill that would provide funds for the nation’s leading abortion provider. But the Ohio House Republican is staying put, for now – and that could improve the chances for a debt limit increase by early next month to avoid a market-shattering government default and possibly a bipartisan budget deal to head off a government shutdown in December.
Advertisement
“I just have enormous confidence it’s the right man at the right moment”, Rep. Tom Cole, (R) Oklahoma told CNN Sunday.
