Politics

Paul Ryan Named House Ways and Means Committee Chairman

Patrick Howley Political Reporter
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Republican Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan was elected House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Tuesday, giving him the gavel of the committee that controls most congressional spending.

Ryan was long considered a lock to win the Republican Steering Committee’s vote to take over the Ways and Means chairmanship, which is being vacated by Michigan Rep. Dave Camp due to term limits.

Ryan has wanted the Ways and Means chairmanship for a long time. The economic policy wonk distinguished himself by turning the House Budget Committee, traditionally an afterthought, into one of the more effective forces of Capitol Hill opposition to President Obama’s spending priorities. With expanded power now on Ways and Means, and coming off a Republican midterm win, Ryan will have a better opportunity to put up resistance to Obama on budget battles that the president has traditionally won over the past six years.

The 2012 Republican vice-presidential nominee has been talked about as a 2016 presidential contender, but he has yet to make any major moves that would suggest a run. His new Ways and Means chairmanship represents another sign that he’s happy to just be a congressman for the foreseeable future.

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Patrick Howley