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 "The focus is on, in my opinion, not who is speaker, but the
process changes we can put in place," said Representative Barry
Loudermilk, a member of the Freedom Caucus made up of the most
conservative Republicans in the House.
At least one caucus member has outlined requirements a candidate
must meet in order to win an endorsement in the speaker's race, and
it is not clear if Ryan can pass the test. In recent days a quiet
campaign has started against Wisconsin's Ryan, the former
vice-presidential candidate considered the only House member able to
gather enough votes to win the election.
For his part, Ryan has repeatedly said he will not enter the race.
A video is circulating around Congress of the floor speech that Ryan
gave supporting creation of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the
emergency scheme that used public funds to shore up banks during the
2008 financial crisis and that is a bugaboo for many conservatives.
 The title of the video on Youtube is "Paul Ryan BEGS Congress to
Pass TARP (PATHETIC)."
They have also sent out reminders that Ryan authored the 2010 book
"Young Guns" with former Representative Eric Cantor and House
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, two men considered part of the
establishment wing of the party who have seen their political
ambitions foiled by more radical conservatives.
McCarthy shocked Washington last week when he withdrew from the
speaker election after facing some of the same pressure hard-liners
had laid on Boehner, who folded and announced last month he would
resign at the end of October.
As the party scrambled to restart its selection process, the
rhetoric shifted to focus on the role of the speaker. Last week some
conservatives even floated the idea that members could temporarily
rotate into the most powerful job in the chamber.
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Freedom Caucus member Dave Brat of Virginia has posted to his
website "10 Commitments the Next Speaker and House Leaders Should
Make." (http://brat.house.gov/speaker-commitments)
Most of the commitments would decentralize the House's power
structure and give rank-and-file members greater say in granting
committee chairmanships, drafting budget legislation, and bringing
bills up for a vote. Ryan, though, has a high profile in the current
structure, overseeing spending legislation as chairman of the Ways
and Means Committee.
The list also includes policy areas such as a requirement to oppose
"amnesty for illegal immigrants." Right-wing groups frequently
attack Ryan as "pro-amnesty."
Brat said the caucus would be happy to interview Ryan if he decides
to run.
Still, when asked if he personally supported Ryan, Brat said: "It's
not about personal anything, its about rules. If we have regular
order, and they want to sign their name to that, I'll support that
person."
(Additional reporting and writing by Lisa Lambert, editing by David
Evans)
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