NUMBER OF THE WEEK: 0
The number of House Republicans who want to be speaker
and can actually secure the necessary 218
votes as of today.
After Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's dramatic exit from
the race last week, the House GOP conference is taking the
week-long Columbus Day recess to do a bit of soul searching and
reflect on the future of a party left in disarray due to fractious
infighting. Despite his reluctance to consider a bid for the
chamber's top post, Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan is under
pressure to step up and lead the GOP out of the wilderness. Ryan is
said to be huddling with staff to consider his options. Meanwhile,
the following Republicans are eyeing the speakership: Reps. Dan
Webster, Jason Chaffetz, Lynn Westermoreland, Steve Scalise, Jeff
Miller, John Kline, Michael Conaway, Tom Price, Tom Cole, Jeb
Hensarling, and Darrell Issa are said to be considering a run.
Should Ryan run and successfully secure the post, the fate of tax
reform would
