Paul Ryan poised to take US Speaker's seat, after winning Republican ballot
The former Republican vice-presidential nominee has vowed to unify the party
Republicans in the US House of Representatives have nominated Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan to become the chamber's next speaker, hoping he can lead them out of weeks of disarray and point them towards accomplishments they can highlight in next year's elections.
The 45-year-old Ryan was his party's 2012 vice-presidential nominee and is considered a telegenic spokesman for conservative priorities. If elected speaker, he would assume one of the most powerful political offices in the United States and a job that puts him second in line of succession to become president.
Ryan won on a secret ballot of the House's 247 Republicans on Wednesday.
Current speaker John Boehner unexpectedly announced his resignation last month. He came under pressure from hardline conservatives who considered him too timid in challenging President Barack Obama and too autocratic in punishing Republican lawmakers who defied him. The full House was expected to elect Ryan as speaker yesterday.
At Wednesday's closed-door meeting, Ryan told House Republicans what he wouldn't do as speaker. "I don't plan to be Caesar, calling all the shots around here," Congressman Matt Salmon reported after the session.
That seemed to be a reference to demands hardline conservatives have made to transfer more power over legislation from House leaders to rank-and-file lawmakers.