Meet the Only Republican to Vote Against Re-Electing Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House
On the first day of the 115th Congress, Paul Ryan was re-elected as speaker of the House. The vote would have been unanimous, except for the vote of one conservative dissenter.
In an effort to “drain the swamp,” Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky cast the lone Republican vote against Speaker Ryan, and voted for Florida Rep. Daniel Webster.
Americans vote for change and Congress votes for Paul Ryan?
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) January 3, 2017
Massie had better company two years ago. In January 2015, 25 conservatives dissented from the Republican caucus and voted against re-electing John Boehner as speaker. Twelve of those dissenters voted for Rep. Webster. Webster’s previous experience as speaker of the House in Florida — where he was known for restoring regular order and honest practices — was a big selling point to the defecting conservatives.
But with a new Republican administration coming in and with conservatives in Congress still hoping to work with Speaker Ryan, there was much less dissent leading up to Tuesday’s vote, versus two years ago.
While Massie wasn’t joined by his fellow conservatives, he was suspected as a possible dissenter:
I bet you Thomas Massie doesn't vote for Paul Ryan.
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) January 3, 2017
Thomas Massie votes for Daniel Webster "to help us drain the swamp."
Whispers break out.
(I called it, guys.)
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) January 3, 2017
Massie ends Ryan's chances for a unanimous vote https://t.co/c7L9MNR6DE
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) January 3, 2017
No one can say Rep. Thomas Massie isn’t afraid to go against the grain (For more from the author of “Meet the Only Republican to Vote Against Re-Electing Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House” please click HERE)
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