Paul Ryan Has No Desire To Be House Speaker

Reps. Eric Cantor, R-Va., Paul Ryan, R-Wisc. and David Camp, R-Mich., at a news conference on the pending health care legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, March 19, 2010.(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
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Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) on Thursday made clear he doesn’t want to be House Speaker, nor is he vying for a position in his party’s leadership team.

At a luncheon sponsored by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Budget Committee chairman and GOP’s most recent vice presidential nominee was asked if he wants the House’s No. 1 spot.

“No, he doesn’t,” Ryan responded, speaking about himself in the third person, as recounted by Politico.

It won’t come as a surprise to those following Ryan’s career — he is widely rumored to be seeking the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over taxes and entitlement programs. He’s also seen as a possible presidential candidate in the future.

“I could’ve decided to go on the elected leadership route years ago,” Ryan said, per Politico. “I’m more of a policy person. … The speaker is expected to fly around the country on weekends as well, helping folks — I’m not going to do that.”

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