It's the job that no Republican member of Congress seems in a hurry to take: Speaker of the House. Two local members of the House of Representatives, one from each party, are hoping that lawmakers can soon reach consensus, for different reasons.
During his weekly conference call, Republican Tom Reed urged patience by his party peers as they select a candidate who could bring the GOP together. Reed's personal favorite choice is Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin representative and former candidate for Vice President. Reed says he is one of many peers who have urged Ryan to reconsider his candidacy after expressing a lack of interest.
"So many people have reached out to him, so many that he respects and looks up to, and said for the sake of the institution - the House of Representatives itself and Congress - he should take another look and reconsider his rejection," said Reed. "I know he's doing that."
Reed admits, though, that Ryan may face the same pressure from a Republican minority that effectively led John Boehner to resign the Speaker position.
It's that same division with the GOP ranks that concerns Brian Higgins. Though with the Democratic Party, Congressman Higgins says such dysfunction threatens the entire body's ability to do the business of the people. With a possible federal government shutdown looming, Higgins wants to know the direction the GOP may take.
"Whatever people's politics are, they are. I understand that," said Higgins. "But when the economy is adversely, negatively impacted by a federal government shutdown, that hurts businesses. That hurts communities. That hurts individuals."
Higgins, who made his remarks during a visit to Buffalo Tuesday, said both parties can and have worked in cooperation for the good of the people locally, pointing to federal funding for redevelopment of Buffalo's waterfront as an example.
