Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin appears to have rounded up sufficient support to become the next speaker of the House. But the tensions that plagued House Republicans under Speaker John A. Boehner are unlikely to disappear under Mr. Ryan.
One sign of those of tensions came Wednesday, when the Freedom Caucus, the hard-right group that helped topple Mr. Boehner, stopped short of giving Mr. Ryan its formal endorsement. Why? Many of the answers can be found in a list of 21 demands that the Freedom Caucus released in recent weeks, calling for changes to House rules and practices. Mr. Ryan and the caucus agreed to defer a broader discussion of the wishes until after the election of a speaker.
Unfortunately, the 21 demands – as described in a questionnaire intended for speaker candidates – are difficult for anyone not versed in the arcana of Congress to understand. Full of jargon and procedural terms, the questionnaire is meant more for lawmakers and their aides than their constituents. But, properly translated, the document is a revealing one, offering insight into how the Freedom Caucus hopes to change the institution and the role of the speaker of the House. Here, we provide a translation.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
One sign of those of tensions came Wednesday, when the Freedom Caucus, the hard-right group that helped topple Mr. Boehner, stopped short of giving Mr. Ryan its formal endorsement. Why? Many of the answers can be found in a list of 21 demands that the Freedom Caucus released in recent weeks, calling for changes to House rules and practices. Mr. Ryan and the caucus agreed to defer a broader discussion of the wishes until after the election of a speaker.
Unfortunately, the 21 demands – as described in a questionnaire intended for speaker candidates – are difficult for anyone not versed in the arcana of Congress to understand. Full of jargon and procedural terms, the questionnaire is meant more for lawmakers and their aides than their constituents. But, properly translated, the document is a revealing one, offering insight into how the Freedom Caucus hopes to change the institution and the role of the speaker of the House. Here, we provide a translation.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
