Politics

Ga. Congressmen Offer To Support Rep. Paul Ryan For Speaker

October 21st, 2015

Two Georgia Congressmen said they will support Rep. Paul Ryan for Speaker of the House. Ryan said he will run if the party unites behind him and accepts some conditions.

At least two Georgia Congressman say they’ll support Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan in his bid for House Speaker.

Republican Georgia Congressmen Barry Loudermilk and Jody Hice are members of the Freedom Caucus, which in recent weeks has played a big role in the debate over who the next speaker will be.

“We believe in freedom and freedom of expression and we don’t want to be constrained and controlled, so it makes it even harder to be Speaker over a Republican majority because a lot of times Democrats are willing to compromise their principles just to go along with the team,” Loudermilk said. “It’s harder to do that on the Republican side, because we’re ideologically driven.”

Linda Chavez, the president of Becoming American Institute, a conservative group advocating for immigration reform, said the Freedom Caucus has been stalling action in the House.

“What Rep. Ryan is trying to do is that we get back to the business of legislating and not simply making bills hostage to any particular wing of the party and I think that’s what we’ve seen over the last couple of years. And it’s certainly increased as the new Freedom Caucus members decided to try to flex their muscle,” Chavez said.

Rep. Ryan has said there are some strings attached to his bid for Speaker.

Among the proposed changes are the rules for when the Speaker can be ousted from the seat.

Loudermilk said he supports Ryan but needs to know more about Ryan’s conditions before casting his vote.

“I believe I can get to a place where I would support him, if the rules are in place that constrains the power of the Speaker,” Loudermilk said.

Another congressman from Georgia, Lynn Westmoreland, said that, if Ryan withdraws his bid, he is interested in running for Speaker.

Loudermilk said he will not run for Speaker because he thinks it’s a thankless job and most Speakers are forced out or leave the position on bad terms.

“I want to have at least one friend left at the end of my life,” Loudermilk said. “People have equated it to herding cats. It’s more like herding tigers.”