Ryan Reviewing Recourse For Dem Sit-In: It Is’Not A Good Sign’ For Democracy

Rep. Paul Ryan, R- Wis., speaks at a news conference following a House Republican meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ryan told GOP lawmakers that he will run for speaker, but only if they... Rep. Paul Ryan, R- Wis., speaks at a news conference following a House Republican meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ryan told GOP lawmakers that he will run for speaker, but only if they embrace him by week's end as their consensus candidate, an ambitious bid to impose unity on a disordered and divided House. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

House Speaker Paul Ryan admonished the Democratic Party’s sit-in on the House floor over gun control, calling it a “publicity stunt” and “fundraising scheme” that was “not a good sign” for democracy.

Ryan warned that the House was “reviewing everything” when it came to potentially taking recourse against Democrats for their sit-in.

“We’re reviewing everything right now as to what happened and how to make sure we can bring order to this chaos,” Ryan said. “This is the people’s House. This is Congress, the House of Representatives, oldest democracy in the world, and they’re descending it into chaos. I don’t think this should be a very proud moment for democracy or for the people who staged these stunts.”

The Democrats began their sit-in Wednesday and continued it well into Thursday–even shouting over the speaker Wednesday night as he held a vote on the floor.

Ryan doubled down that he would not be bringing forward the gun vote Democrats have been calling for.

“I’m very worried about the precedent,” Ryan said. “When we see our democracy descend in this way. It is not a good sign. It is not a good precedent.”

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. I don’t think this should be a very proud moment for democracy or for the people who staged these stunts."

    facepalm¹⁰

  2. Please tell me there’s a viable Democratic alternative in his district?

  3. Avatar for jsfox jsfox says:

    Hmm I think this is an excellent moment for democracy. And Pauly this sit -in would be easy to end. Vote on gun control!

  4. Paul Ryans recent interest in democracy is encouraging!

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

133 more replies

Participants

Avatar for tsam Avatar for caterpillar Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for meri Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for skippykaos Avatar for inversion Avatar for sniffit Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for sonsofares Avatar for maxaroo Avatar for geofu54 Avatar for quax Avatar for exspectator Avatar for ronbyers Avatar for dnl Avatar for darrtown Avatar for tena Avatar for beattycat Avatar for professorpoopypants Avatar for floridajes Avatar for yail_bloor

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: