Rep. Paul Ryan on House speaker's job: Thanks, but no thanks

WASHINGTON — When Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., announced he was withdrawing his candidacy for House speaker Thursday, eyes quickly turned to the next logical candidate, Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan, a former GOP vice presidential nominee who has earned respect among the mainstream and conservative wings of the party.

Even McCarthy told National Review on Thursday, “I personally want Paul Ryan.”

But almost as quickly — within the hour — Ryan’s office blasted out a statement saying thanks, but no thanks.

"While I am grateful for the encouragement I’ve received, I will not be a candidate,” he said.

Since he was the vice presidential nominee in 2012, Ryan has consistently been cited as a possible candidate for higher office, including for president earlier this year. Each time, he has passed, saying he wants to stay put. He reiterated that stance Thursday.

“I continue to believe I can best serve the country and this conference as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee,” Ryan said.

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A self-proclaimed policy wonk who relishes seemingly mind-numbing fiscal minutiae, he already has something of his dream job. As House Budget chairman, he brokered a two-year budget deal with Democrats in 2013. Now leading the powerful Ways and Means panel, he wants to overhaul the tax code.
 
Being speaker would almost certainly forestall that opportunity.
 
“It’s one of the most difficult (jobs) in all of government,” said fellow Wisconsin Republican Rep. Reid Ribble, who traveled with Ryan during his vice presidential campaign. “I just think that Paul is in a place where he really enjoys his work right now. He’s always wanted to be a tax writer and he’s finally chairman of the committee that does it.
 
“He might even view becoming speaker as a step back in leadership roles,” said Ribble, who has not spoken to Ryan about the speakership.

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And it certainly wouldn't get him any further toward the White House. Only one speaker has ever become president, James Polk in 1844. Thomas Mann, a congressional scholar at the Brookings Institution, said that taking on the role now, when Congress is so dysfunctional, would make it even less likely.

"The speakership under these conditions would end whatever political ambitions beyond Congress that he might have," he said.

Another easily overlooked factor in Ryan's decision is no doubt his family, Ribble said. The speakership would require him to spend a lot more time in Washington, away from his wife and three children. Despite his committee responsibilities in Washington, Ryan spends more time in Wisconsin than most other members of the state’s delegation without similar duties, a USA TODAY analysis last year found.

“He takes being a dad to his young kids pretty seriously, and I think he recognizes that the job of speaker would pull him away from his family way more than he would like to be,” Ribble said.

A spokesman for Ryan did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Dave Wasserman, House analyst for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said Ryan was the only member of the House who could garner more votes for speaker than McCarthy — who dropped out because he didn’t have enough votes — and Ryan’s declining to run has sent House Republicans, and the process, into disarray.

“We’re talking about a free-for-all at the moment,” Wasserman said.