Tom DeLay's Advice to Paul Ryan: 'Include Everybody'

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has some advice for Speaker Paul Ryan — "include everybody," the Washington Examiner reported.

Though Republicans own a solid majority over Democrats, the nearly three dozen members of the Freedom Caucus could challenge Ryan's ability to push through legislation they don't agree with, but without working with Democrats.

"We had our factions, too," DeLay told the Examiner. "The troublemakers were the moderates. But you bring everybody together and you talk to them, you listen to them and you get a feel for what can be accomplished and what cannot be accomplished."

DeLay is credited with passing significant legislation despite slim margins, including No Child Left Behind and the original Patriot Act, the Examiner reported.

"We'd do a whip check and work with them from writing the bill all the way through the committees and to the floor, taking care of their problems along the way," DeLay told the Examiner. "By the time you got to the floor, the members had ownership."

But that advice may be a little too late for Ryan.

Ryan is staring down a floor vote to remain as speaker with the possibility of a revolt from the conservative caucus and staunch Donald Trump supporters who have not forgiven Ryan for a few indiscretions, but most recently for not actively supporting the president-elect.

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