WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Speaker Paul Ryan says he's not leaving Congress anytime soon.
The Wisconsin Republican was asked Thursday about two published reports suggesting he might leave his job soon after the GOP passes a rewrite of the U.S. tax code.
Asked by a reporter if he's quitting anytime soon, Ryan chuckled and said, "I'm not. No."
Ryan spoke as Politico and the Huffington Post published reports speculating that Ryan would make this term his last or even quit within weeks. Ryan took the job reluctantly, after former Speaker John Boehner of Ohio stepped aside abruptly in 2015.
The new report comes at a time where Ryan’s major push on tax reform looks as if it’s about to be passed into law that’s why Janesville native Dennis Bird doesn’t believe the reports.
“I don’t believe it, he’s too young,” Bird said. “He doesn’t sound like he’s tired of his job.”
Others think like Linda Graves thinks it’s good news.
“I think it’s probably a good choice for him to make, he’s been very loyal to the Republican Party but there are times when you need to set party affiliation aside and do what’s better for people,” Graves said.
Especially if it’s for his family, the former Janesville teacher says.
“When children need their parents are when they are teenagers and if he’s making the choice so he’s more involved in his children’s life that’s an awesome choice,” she said.
Just checked in with my friend @PRyan. He’s not going anywhere.
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) December 14, 2017
A Ryan spokeswoman calls the reports "pure speculation."
First, quote me: “This is pure speculation. As the speaker himself said today, he’s not going anywhere any time soon.” Next, check @BrendanBuck's twitter feed for better re/ax.
— AshLee Strong (@AshLeeStrong) December 14, 2017
