After nearly 20 years in the U.S. House of Representatives–including two years as Speaker–Paul Ryan might be calling it quits.
The bombshell news first started circulating after an article in the Huffington Post claimed that a GOP representative told reporters, off the record, that “there are a whole lot of rumors and speculation that the speaker may set aside.”
Politico, too, reported that Ryan is “tiring of D.C.” and has been for a while, even before becoming Speaker of the House. When he accepted the top job, he reportedly told his predecessor, John Boehner, that being Speaker would be Ryan’s last job in politics.
However, Ryan has gone on the record to deny the rumors. Being asked if he was planning to leave Congress “soon,” Ryan chuckled and replied, “I’m not, no.” However, the use of the word “soon” presumably still leaves open the possibility that Ryan could not want to seek re-election in 2018.
Ryan’s spokesperson has also confirmed that Ryan has no intention of retiring in the middle of a session, though she didn’t comment on whether or not he would seek another term.
If Ryan were to leave the House, it’d be on a high note. His signature issue, for nearly two decades, has been tax reform. Despite back and forth, the Republican-backed tax reform bill is likely to be voted on by the House and Senate and signed into law by President Trump in a matter of days.
