WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan told his House Republican colleagues tonight that he will be their speaker -- but only on his terms.
The Wisconsinite had been the subject of intense speculation for the past 12 days since Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy abruptly withdrew from the race to replace outgoing Speaker John Boehner, sparking a fresh round of leadership tumult. Ryan was reluctant at first, but goaded into the race by everyone from Boehner to the man who picked him as his vice presidential running mate, Mitt Romney.
Here's what he wants in order to do it:
- Ryan wants the entire House GOP to unite behind him -- from the arch-conservative House Freedom Caucus that helped force Boehner out, to the moderate Tuesday Group.
- Ryan wants changes to House rules, agreed to by consensus, a key Freedom Caucus demand. But one of the rule changes Ryan specifically wants is to the "motion to vacate the chair," a procedural gambit to knock the speaker out that some conservatives held over Boehner's head. The rules changes need "to include fixes that ensure we do not face constant leadership challenges and crises," he told reporters.
- Ryan wants to maintain his time at home with his family. He said he would spend less time on the road (translation: raising money) than previous speakers, "but I pledge to make up for it with more time communicating our vision, our message."
A Speaker Ryan would spend more time on the big-picture vision for the party than on managing the floor. As he told reporters:
"I believe the ideas and principles of results-driven common-sense conservatism are the key to a better tomorrow. The idea that the role of the federal government is not to facilitate dependence, but create an environment of opportunity for everyone. The idea that government should do less and do it for everyone. The idea that those who serve should say what they mean and mean what they say."
So what does all this mean for Georgia? This first casualty is the end of Rep. Lynn Westmoreland's speaker bid. The Coweta County Republican jokingly lamented his speech -- "people were clapping" -- to the Southern Coalition today going to waste.
"I'm out, he's in, brother," Westmoreland said.
Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, also offered a quick endorsement.
"He’s clearly interested in it," Scott said. "I certainly think he’s the right guy for the job. I look forward to supporting him."
Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Pooler, is on board as well.
"Let me tell you, the guy’s going to be president one day," Carter said. "He’s special."
The votes that might be in doubt belong to Georgia's Freedom Caucus members, freshmen Barry Loudermilk of Cassville and Jody Hice of Monroe. Grassroots Republicans -- including Hice's predecessor, Paul Broun -- already have been pushing back on the idea of Ryan as speaker, rating him as insufficiently conservative.
The biggest knock against Ryan in the base: His support for a big immigration reform bill. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, said Ryan pledged not to pursue such a bill tonight -- a necessary move to shore up support on the right.
Collins said he liked what he heard from Ryan, but was not completely ready to commit until he sees how the rule changes and everything else plays out:
"So I think that was a good statement to the conference to understand. Now we've got big decisions. And we've got to make those. And we will see where we go from here."
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