Paul Ryan: No, I’m Still Not Running For Speaker

House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., right, accompanied by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, takes reporters' questions as during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday,... House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., right, accompanied by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, takes reporters' questions as during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, as House Republicans signaled support for a budget deal worked out yesterday between Ryan and Senate Budget Committee Chair Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. The budget deal was one of a few major measures left on Congress' to-do list near the end of a bruising year that has produced a partial government shutdown, a flirtation with a first-ever federal default and gridlock on President Obama's agenda. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, on Thursday made it clear that he will not run for speaker shortly after House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) dropped out of the race.

“Kevin McCarthy is the best person to lead the House, and so I’m disappointed in this decision. Now it is important that we, as a Conference, take time to deliberate and seek new candidates for the speakership,” he said in a statement. “While I am grateful for the encouragement I’ve received, I will not be a candidate. I continue to believe I can best serve the country and this conference as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.”

Despite numerous House Republicans floating Ryan as a potential candidate for speaker, he has repeatedly declined to run.

After the 40-or-so member House Freedom Caucus endorsed McCarthy’s challenger, Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL), Ryan had been planning on giving a speech in support of McCarthy’s nomination for speaker on Thursday.

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Notable Replies

  1. Paul Ryan is way, way more valuable to his big business backers as Ways and Means, (read taxation,) chair than he would be as Speaker. He knows which side his bread is buttered on.

  2. Translation: What, me volunteering to be in a position that means I am on-the-hook for what the GOP caucus does and what the House accomplishes? No way! I want the perks of being in Congress and being head of Committee without any of the actual responsibility for governing.

  3. Ah come on Paul … It’s never too late for a flip-flop ----

  4. Avatar for dnl dnl says:

    …still ruing his Mitt-stake?

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