WASHINGTON -- Rep. Tom Price, R-Roswell, is moving swiftly to lock down key endorsements today from heavyweight GOP committee chairmen in his bid for majority leader.
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the Republican Party's vice presidential nominee in 2012 who remains widely popular across the House GOP caucus, offered his backing of Price via a spokesman:
"Tom Price is a committed conservative and a good friend. He and I have served for years together on the Budget and Ways and Means Committees, working to pay down our debt, fix our tax code, and grow our economy. Tom has a proven record of advancing conservative solutions and principles. He has the knowledge and skills needed to be an effective Majority Leader, and I'm proud to support him."
Ryan chairs the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee and held the Budget Committee post before Price. The Georgian also earned the public backing of Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, the Financial Services Committee chairman, earlier today. Ryan and Hensarling both are popular enough to have been strong contenders for top leadership, including speaker, but both are passing on campaigns.
The other contenders for majority leader -- assuming the current leader, Kevin McCarthy, wins the speaker's race to replace John Boehner -- are Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.
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