House Republicans are pushing back against Paul Ryan after the boy who would be speaker demanded that he only work a part time schedule that includes no weekends.
Paul Ryan wants to reinvent the job of Speaker of the House as a side gig. Rep. Ryan (R-WI) told The Hill, “Hey look, I’m here four days a week as it is. I’m not going to spend the other three days a week running around America.”
The issue is that House Republicans got used to John Boehner crisscrossing the country to raise money for them. According to The Center For Responsive Politics, Boehner was the third biggest fundraiser in the entire Republican Party behind only Sens. McCain and Alexander, “Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) raised $97 million for his House campaigns and leadership PAC from the time he received his first donations in 1989…No current lawmaker, House or Senate, has given away more money to the party and its congressional candidates, a total of $41.1 million from his campaign committees and PAC.”
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Boehner’s fundraising for House candidates is one of the reasons why Republicans have been able to build such a large House majority. For years, Boehner has worked weekends and raised cash whether the House was in session or not. Paul Ryan is promising to end that practice because he isn’t interested in raising money for his own party.
House Republicans who spoke to The Hill were not happy with Ryan’s demand for a part time schedule. “More people would apply for the position if they thought it didn’t include weekends,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). Added Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), chairman of the Tea Party Caucus: “I don’t think the Speakership is a 9 to 5 job.”
Paul Ryan wants American workers to work more hours for less pay while he is seeking a promotion and fewer hours. Paul Ryan’s speakership could be the worst thing to happen to House Republicans in a long time.
Republicans and the conservative media are already turning on Ryan, and it could get even uglier if he is elected Speaker of the House.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
