Paul Ryan For Speaker Rumors Heating Up

By R. Brownell

After stating he would not run for Speaker Boehner’s current position when the congressman leaves later this month, Rep. Paul Ryan is apparently now seriously considering throwing his hat in the race. Except, there’s one pretty big detail which might make things messy. According to CBS News:

Ryan’s confidants tell CBS News he will not horse trade with the House Freedom Caucus, a group of 40 or so deeply conservative members who have been demanding changes to house rules and other very specific promises from candidates for Speaker in exchange for their support. Ryan’s confidants say he is not going to negotiate for a job he never sought, and that he has a record of conservative leadership that should be clear to every member of the GOP conference.

They say Ryan hasn’t ruled out meeting with the House Freedom Caucus if asked, but “he’s not going to go to the Freedom Caucus and say, ‘I’ll do this and this’…otherwise you’ve sold yourself to them from the very beginning, and set yourself up for failure” said someone with knowledge of his deliberations.’ “He still really, really does not want to do this. He has his dream job. If he’s Speaker, his whole career path changes. He’s not going to make concessions to get a job he didn’t want in the first place.”

Either members believe in his conservative leadership, or they don’t – and if Ryan concludes that he’s unlikely to get a near-unanimous vote of support from republicans, his allies say he is happy to stay exactly where he is as the chair of the House Ways and Means committee.

During this tense time for the GOP, six other House Republicans have shown interest in running for speaker: Reps. Mike McCaul, Mike Conaway, Pete Sessions, Daniel Webster (endorsed by the House Freedom Caucus and Ron Paul), and Jason Chaffetz.

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