House Speaker Paul Ryan says he's a better leader than his embattled predecessor, former Ohio GOP Rep. John Boehner – and his colleagues seem to agree.
In an interview with CNN posted Thursday, the Wisconsin Republican lawmaker attributes governing style as key to his success with a fractious House that bedeviled Boehner, forcing his retirement.
"I think I do it better," Ryan said. "Not to knock John, but I spend more time with all of our members on a continual basis."
The House budget chairman, Georgia Rep. Tom Price, told CNN the difference between speakers is stark.
"This is so much more organic in terms of what is occurring in our conference right now and it's what previously frustrated many members – they felt like decisions were made on high and that they were simply asked to salute," Price tells CNN.
According to CNN, Ryan holds weekly dinners with a rotating group of members and meets in the speaker's office with representatives of the GOP's factions – including the conservative House Freedom Caucus that was particularly critical of Boehner.
"I support Paul," Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the leader of the House Freedom Caucus, tells CNN – even as issues like Obamacare are still unsolved, a matter that keeps Louisiana Rep. John Fleming skeptical.
"At the end of the day, I don't know that much substantive has come out of" leadership-led meetings aimed at searching for am Obamacare replacement, Fleming tells CNN.
And on the fundraising front, Ryan also is out-doing his predecessor – Ryan has broken Boehner's fundraising record by pulling in more than $23 million since becoming speaker, CNN reports.
The National Republican Congressional Committee announced it raised a record $26.8 million in the first quarter of 2016, and a senior NRCC aide tells CNN it's Ryan that made it possible.
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