In address, Paul Ryan pledges a ‘complete alternative’ to the Democratic agenda
- 9 years ago
Paul D. Ryan, five weeks into his tenure as House speaker, started an effort to carve the Republican Party in his own image Thursday by pledging in an address to use the House over the coming year to "put together a complete alternative to the left's agenda" - one heavy on his favorite issues of tax reform, welfare reform and free trade.
While conservatives appear to be giving Ryan a wider berth than they did his predecessor, John A. Boehner, the spending bill is likely to provoke more internal divides over how sharply to confront Obama and test Ryan's pledge to respect the will of the majority of House Republicans.
The address included several overt nods to a younger generation of conservatives - starting with his introduction from Sen. Mike Lee , who was elected in the 2010 tea party wave and remains a standard-bearer for activists concerned about a expanding federal government.
While conservatives appear to be giving Ryan a wider berth than they did his predecessor, John A. Boehner, the spending bill is likely to provoke more internal divides over how sharply to confront Obama and test Ryan's pledge to respect the will of the majority of House Republicans.
The address included several overt nods to a younger generation of conservatives - starting with his introduction from Sen. Mike Lee , who was elected in the 2010 tea party wave and remains a standard-bearer for activists concerned about a expanding federal government.