Reaction is coming in from area members of Congress after House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Wednesday morning he would not seek another term in his Wisconsin district.
In a statement, North County Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of the 21st district said:
"One of the greatest honors of my professional life has been working with and learning from Paul Ryan. He is humble, honest, and thoughtful. He did not seek the job of Speaker, but he stepped up to serve during a challenging time in our Nation's history. Paul has challenged us all to raise our gaze, and he is deeply respected on both sides of the aisle because of his principles and commitment to the American Idea.
"I have been proud to work with Paul on a wide range of issues that have helped the North Country - from passing the 21st Century Cures Act, to rebuilding our national defense, to combating the opioid epidemic, to reforming the VA to better serve our veterans. Since I have known Paul, he has been a true friend and mentor, and I will greatly miss serving with him in Congress. As we make this transition in the House, I will continue to put the North Country first and ensure we have a seat at the table for the major issues facing our nation."
Rep. John Faso of New York's 19th district said:
"Paul Ryan has been a dedicated public servant to his district and nation for 20 years. I regret his decision to retire but fully understand his desire to not miss the teenage years of his three children. I wish him and his family well and thank him for his service to the nation."
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York's 18th district said:
“Although Speaker Ryan and I don’t share the same political philosophy, I believe he’s a good man and I appreciate his service to his constituents and the country. I wish him and his family the best as they transition away from public life. The Speaker’s retirement should also be a wakeup call to his fellow Republicans in Congress – the American people have had it with backroom dealing and a partisan refusal to compromise. I hope that in his final days as Speaker, Paul Ryan seeks out common ground and a transparent approach to wielding the gavel.”
Rep. Paul Tonko of New York's 20th district said:
“I thank Speaker Ryan for his public service and commitment. He has helped lead his Majority party through a uniquely challenging period in our history. Sadly, I believe his legacy will reflect a persistent failure to address the needs of working families and their values. His announcement today is certainly further evidence that the American people are not satisfied with the priorities and direction of this Congress and they are demanding a change. While popular opinion has not always supported this speaker, I remain hopeful that he will listen to the people now and use his remaining time in leadership to stand up for the rule of law, protect those who serve it, and finally start exercising the standards of Congressional accountability assigned to us by the Constitution.”
