U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan now says he would consider taking the speaker’s post in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, the Janesville Republican did offer a list of conditions for taking the position.
Ryan said Tuesday night, after emerging from private meetings with GOP leaders on Tuesday, that he would run for the speakership if he has the endorsement of three key factions within the ranks of House Republicans by this coming Friday. “It’s in their hands…I’ll leave it up to my colleagues to decide if I am that unifying person,” Ryan said.
Ryan is also calling for a rule change that would make it harder to overthrow a sitting speaker, and promised to give rank-and-file members more of a say in decisions about what bills and amendments to debate.
Ryan has said for weeks he was not interested in seeking the job, after the announced departure of Speaker John Boehner caused a chaotic battle over leadership of the U.S. House. During a press conference Tuesday night, Ryan told reporters his “greatest worry” was having his kids question why he didn’t “stand and fight” and run for speaker when he had a chance to do so.