WATCH: Paul Ryan praises fiscal conservatism theme in speaker concessions
Julia Johnson
Video Embed
Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) said he was not dismayed by the recent lengthy speaker election process. In fact, he admitted that he agreed with some of the concessions, adding that “I think I had too much power as speaker.”
In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday, Ryan said, “I like some of those,” referring to some of the concessions Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) made to the group of Republican detractors to secure their votes.
The concessions limited some of McCarthy’s power as speaker, which Tapper explained, but Ryan indicated it might be a good thing.
The former congressman noted omnibus spending bills bothered him the most.
SEE IT: CHIP ROY INTRODUCES BILL TO DEFUND WHO OVER CCP PRAISE AND PROMOTION OF ABORTION
https://twitter.com/dcexaminer/status/1613696318110572549?s=20&t=jADBbG5ELSQv6JlXfMUCig
“A bill that thick that four people only decide on,” he described. “No four people should be doing all that.”
“I was making decisions on composition of spending bills,” he recalled.
According to Ryan, committee members who have devoted extensive time and energy “should be making those decisions, not kicked up to elected leadership.”
He also noted that many of the concessions being asked for were driven by “fiscal responsibility.”
Ryan described the speaker election saga as “Republicans finally reacquiring their moorings on the party of fiscal responsibility and limited government,” noting it as “the good thing that I see in all of this weird stuff.”
The former speaker further commented on the tense election process that featured two congressmen almost coming to blows. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) “just got hot under the collar,” he told Tapper. “Things like that occur.”
Rogers was seen being restrained by a colleague as he spoke in a heated manner to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), a Republican holdout against McCarthy. The exchange came during the 14th ballot of the election, on which McCarthy came up one vote short.
“By the way, that’s what the floor is like when you ever have any contentious vote,” he said.
Ryan further told the CNN host that he is not in favor of C-SPAN having access to film on the floor. “I’m not a fan of the performance art that has overtaken our politics in the entertainment wings of both of our parties. This would just feed into that,” he explained.
The two also discussed Donald Trump, whom Ryan has openly criticized. “He’s fading fast,” Ryan said, slamming the former president and now-2024 candidate as “a proven loser.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“He cost us the house in ’18. He cost us the White House in ’20. He cost us the Senate again and again,” Ryan contended.
“We’re moving past Trump,” he continued. “I can’t imagine him getting the nomination, frankly.”