Paul Ryan is reportedly now open to becoming House speaker

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published 19 October 2015

After numerous announcements that he just was not interested in running for speaker of the House, Paul Ryan is finally coming around to the idea and, as CBS News reports, is now open to launching a bid. However, there's one big thing standing between the congressman and the bid: the House Freedom Caucus.

Ryan's confidants tell CBS News he will not horse trade with the House Freedom Caucus, a group of 40 or so deeply conservative members who have been demanding changes to House rules and other very specific promises from candidates for speaker in exchange for their support. Ryan's confidants say he is not going to negotiate for a job he never sought, and that he has a record of conservative leadership that should be clear to every member of the GOP conference. [CBS News]

Ryan will have a chance to size up the job prospect further on Wednesday, after the House returns from a week-long recess and congressional Republicans likely meet. Ryan is expected to speak at that meeting, which, insiders say, will give him a chance to better "gauge reaction" from his fellow members.

Even though Ryan is changing his mind, that still doesn't mean he's necessarily thrilled at the prospect of replacing outgoing Speaker John Boehner. One person close to Ryan told CBS News: "He still really, really does not want to do this. He has his dream job. If he's speaker, his whole career path changes. He's not going to make concessions to get a job he didn't want in the first place."