WASHINGTON — Sen. Jeff Sessions on Friday warned likely incoming House Speaker Paul Ryan not to use his new post to pursue “amnesty” or more multi-national trade agreements.
Ryan, who is poised to become Speaker of the House next week, has in the past supported so called comprehensive immigration reform. He was also one of the most vocal backers of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an expansive trade agreement between the United States and 11 other countries, the terms of which remain secret. Sessions believes both of those positions are at odds with a majority of the electorate.
“I believe there’s a great danger to elect a speaker of the House who is the leading advocate for major issues today — trade and immigration — and advocating against the wishes of the American voter,” Sessions told conservative talk radio host Laura Ingraham. “It’s going to be important that he doesn’t use that office to, I think, override the basic Republicans who elected us.”
After several weeks of uncertainty, Ryan has in recent days been able to gather support from every corner of the fractious Republican conference. A super-majority of the staunchly conservative Freedom Caucus announced their support for Ryan, in spite of their ideological differences, because Ryan assured the group he would return the House to “regular order” and implement a more “bottom-up” approach to governing.
“After talking with so many of you, and hearing your words of encouragement, I believe we are ready to move forward as one, united team,” Ryan told his colleagues in a letter. “I am ready and eager to be our speaker.”
Sessions expressed particular concern that while Ryan promised not to pursue immigration reform with President Obama still in office, he may bring the issue back to the forefront during the next administration.
“I think there’s a great danger that would happen,” Sessions intoned. “We need leaders who fight for and advocate for the values of the voters who elect us, not against them.”
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