Paul Ryan gave a brief presser outlining his demands:
Prior to the presser Ryan met with various caucuses and gave them these conditions:
- 1. Every faction of the Republicans in the House must support him, or he doesn’t run.
- 2. A return to “regular order” where all proposed bills must come through committees first. Only Ryan will decide which bills will make it to the floor for a vote.
- 3. He will not be responsible for campaigning or raising money. Give that job to someone else, he doesn’t have the time for it.
- 4. Elimination of the “Jefferson rule”, or possible use of motions to “vacate the speaker”. This grants him unlimited power and no-one can challenge his speakership. He rules as dictator for the House and no-one allowed to challenge his authoritarian decisions.
Take it or leave it, he doesn’t care.
During his meeting(s) with the Republican caucus, no-one else was allowed to speak, make inquiries, or challenge his presentation.
He came, he spoke, he laid down the rules and he walked out without answering questions or allowing questions to be raised.
The various descriptions of what took place sound like typical GOPe maneuvers.
You get the sense the “establishment” elite are preparing for a vulgarian presidency – and authoritative control over the speakership position is a way to deflect/diminish any lost control, power or influence.
What kind of bills would Speaker Ryan support? Well, historically he’s supported every bailout, every single spending bill, Stimulus, TARP, Auto-Bailout, Amnesty and giving President Obama full Trade Authority via TPA. On those issues the Democrats love him.
However, he has also proposed a budget “Ryan Budget” that would reform entitlement spending including Medicare and Social Security. On those issues Democrats don’t like him.
Paul Ryan appears in full support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce legislative priorities, and Tom Donohue – so… you decide.