Paul Ryan Ready To Resign?

Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) told a local news station that there is a “rumor” that Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will resign soon, stepping up speculation about the Speaker’s political future.

Amodei told Nevada Newsmakers “The rumor mill is that Paul Ryan is getting ready to resign in the next 30 to 60 days and that Rep. Steve Scalise will be the new Speaker.”

Ryan’s office denied that the Speaker will be resigning adding that he and his wife will decide in the spring about whether he will run for reelection.

“The speaker is not resigning,” said Ryan’s spokeswoman AshLee Strong in a statement on Monday.

Questions about Ryan’s political future — and who could replace him has Speaker — have been swirling all year.

Growing concern about a Democratic wave in the midterms, as well as the passage of a massive government funding package last week, have stepped up speculation that this may be Ryan's last Congress as Speaker.

"If I was just guessing, he wanted to do the tax-cut bill," Amodei said, when pressed on why Ryan would decide to leave now. "You know, said the same thing: 'Hey, I checked all of the boxes I thought were important and I'm moving on to whatever else.'"

Amodei, who is not a close ally of Ryan's, emphasized that he was just repeating a rumor. But the on-the-record comments from a Republican lawmaker — and the suggestion that Ryan could resign before the midterms — made waves on Monday, briefly crashing the Nevada Newsmakers website.

Scalise's office also pushed back against the rumor floated by Amodei, saying Scalise is focused on his job in Congress and keeping the majority.

"Whip Scalise is proud to serve alongside Speaker Ryan, and fully supports him to remain Speaker," said Lauren Fine, Scalise's spokeswoman. "Our whole leadership team is focused on working with President Trump to deliver more conservative wins for the country, and also ensuring we keep the majority so we can continue implementing President Trump's agenda that is getting our economy back on track."

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