Ryan’s election gives House Republicans a chance to hit the reset button. Throughout Boehner’s nearly five years as Speaker, centrist members and Tea Party conservatives were at war with each other over policy and tactics.
Now, it’s all Ryan’s problem.
He has made peace with conservative hard-liners for now, saying he’s open to rules changes that will bring more rank-and-file members into the decision-making process. And Boehner helped “clean out the barn” for Ryan this week, ensuring his successor won’t face any major fiscal crises until after the 2016 election.
“If he’s committed to the process changes that he’s espoused, a honeymoon could last well into the first and second anniversary,” said conservative Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), who authored a resolution this summer that sparked a debate over whether to oust Boehner from power.
“If the actions follow the rhetoric we’ve heard, it will be a monumental and historic time for the Hill and the way we do business.”
In private meetings, Ryan has told members of the conservative Freedom Caucus he won’t engage in any retaliation against fellow Republicans — a move for which Boehner had famously been known.
And the new Speaker told all of his colleagues Wednesday that he wants the conference to figure out how to reorganize the Steering Committee by Thanksgiving.
For the vote itself, click here.
