The Republican Party needs to make the transition from being seen as an opposition party into being one that makes solutions, House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday morning, and he plans to use his post as a "communications speakership" to communicate the House Republicans' visions, ideas and agenda as the fall general election approaches.
"We're putting this agenda together so that in the fall, in 2016, the people of this nation will have a very clear choice to make and this is what we think we owe people," the Wisconsin lawmaker told MSNBC's
"Morning Joe" program. "If you don't like the direction we're going, we should say here's how we should do it differently."
And no matter who becomes the party's nominee, Ryan said he is confident the House will be able to work with that person "quite well."
"The agenda, which is — I'll just give you real quick — economic growth, patient-centered healthcare, moving people from welfare to work and fighting poverty, fixing our national security and restoring the Constitution and self-government, making government more accountable," said Ryan, outlining the talking points.
"These unify all Republicans, these unify all conservatives and I believe are appealing to discerning Democrats and independents. And so whoever our nominee is going to be, I believe is going to be comfortable with those things."
Ryan said he's spoken with Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich about the plans, and all three GOP candidates are "very understanding, familiar with, and comfortable" about the ideas.
Meanwhile, Ryan said he does believe that Republicans in the House and Senate will be able to provide a unifying front, even though there have been complaints that a Trump presidency would jeopardize the party's current majorities.
"The way I look at elections is you always act as if everything is in doubt, in danger," said Ryan. "Never rest on your laurels, never feel complacent or comfortable. The day you do that is the day you probably should lose."
Ryan also said he does not see any difficulties in dealing with Trump, even though his views on healthcare and tax reform differ from the mainstream Republican line.
"I'm familiar with his tax reform plan, which is lower rates across the board for everybody and all businesses for faster economic growth," said Ryan. "We will have a good debate about how to do that, but if — from what I recall from his plan, it's basically that. On healthcare, he knows we need to repeal and replace Obamacare. So look, I don't see a big problem here."
Meanwhile, Ryan said that he plans to stick with offering an agenda to the country, and rolling it out before the Republican National Convention in July.
"I think these things unify us," he said, comparing it with the party's 1994
"Contract With America."
"I do believe that whoever our nominee is going to be, is going to be somebody that is comfortable with this, based on my conversations with these gentlemen."
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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