Ryan elected as ‘Speaker’
GOP seeks unity
WASHINGTON, Oct 29, (Agencies): The US House of Representatives on Thursday voted to install Republican Representative as its new speaker, replacing John Boehner following a revolt by conservative lawmakers who forced his retirement.
Republicans put up a majority of at least 218 House votes to elect Ryan, putting him in charge of legislation Ryan
that moves through the 435-member chamber and next in line to the US presidency after the vice president.
In his acceptance speech, Ryan planned to ask both parties for a period of healing and to focus on working families, said an aide who described the remarks on condition of anonymity.
“If you have ideas, let’s hear them. A greater clarity between us can lead to a greater charity among us,” Ryan was planning to say, said the aide, in what seemed a bid for Republican reconciliation.
Thursday’s vote comes as Congress nears completion of a bipartisan accord to avert a jarring federal default next week and likely prevent a December government shutdown by setting spending levels for the next two years.
The House approved the bill Wednesday 266-167, with final Senate passage on track in a few days, despite opposition from conservatives including senators seeking the Republican presidential nomination.
The budget vote underscored Ryan’s challenge in leading Republicans who often have scant interest in compromise, especially with a Republican presidential contest dominated by candidates who vilify Washington insiders. Republicans opposed the budget deal by 167-79, but Democrats supported it unanimously.
Conservatives complain that Boehner has been excessively powerful, forcing bills to the House floor without rank-andfiled input, dictating committee chairs and punishing rebels.
One leader of the right-wing Freedom Caucus, Rep. Raul Labrador, said conservatives expect Ryan to alter that.
“We’re going to have his back for the next few months and make sure that we give him the opportunity to show that he can be the leader that we hope he can be,” Labrador said.
House Republicans made Ryan their nominee for speaker in a secret ballot Wednesday that saw him defeat his only announced opponent, Rep. Dan Webster, by 200-43.
Though Ryan won less than the 218 votes needed to be elected by the full House, conservatives — including members of the rebellious House Freedom Caucus — said most would back him Thursday. Democrats were expected to make a futile vote for Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, of California.
Amiable and just 45, Ryan has been in Congress 17 years and has strong ties with all wings of the Republican Party. Past chairman of the House Budget Committee and current head of the Ways and Means panel, he’s put his imprint on deficit reduction, tax, health and trade legislation — prime subjects that have raised his stature and put him at the center of many of Congress’ highest profile debates.
Many Democrats like Ryan but none hesitate to attack him as a symbol of Republican policies they consider harsh.
These include efforts to pare taxes for the rich, reshape Medicare — the government health care system for the elderly — into a voucher-like program and squeeze savings from Medicaid — the health care program for the poor.