By David Sherfinski and Seth McLaughlin - The Washington Times -
House Speaker
Paul D. Ryan who has publicly wrestled for the past month over whether to support presumptive GOP presidential nominee
Donald Trump said in a column posted online Thursday he will be voting for
Mr. Trump.
Mr. Ryan said in the column published Thursday on gazettextra.com he feels confident through the conversations hes had with
Mr. Trump that the billionaire businessman would help turn ideas in the House policy agenda into laws to help improve peoples lives."
Thats why Ill be voting for him this fall"
Mr. Ryan wrote.
Its no secret that he and I have our differences. I wont pretend otherwise" the speaker went on to write. And when I feel the need to Ill continue to speak my mind. But the reality is on the issues that make up our agenda we have more common ground than disagreement."
Mr. Ryan who had been the highest-ranking GOP official to withhold his support for the partys presumptive nominee has criticized
Mr. Trump in the past over issues like his proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States.
For me its a question of how to move ahead on the ideas that I and my House colleagues have invested so much in through the years"
Mr. Ryan wrote. Its not just a choice of two people but of two visions for America. And House Republicans are helping shape that Republican vision by offering a bold policy agenda by offering a better way ahead."
Donald Trump can help us make it a reality" he wrote.
Ed Brookover a senior adviser to
Mr. Trumps campaign said on CNN Thursday that they are pleased" to have
Mr. Ryans support.
We know that he and
Mr. Trump have been communicating" Mr. Brookover said. And Speaker
Ryans a hundred percent right when he says he and
Mr. Trump have a lot more in common than they do than anybody on our side does with Mrs. Clinton."
Mr. Ryan said its clear that likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton will not support the agenda which he said will address the countrys tax code repealing and replacing Obamacare restoring the Constitution and separation of powers national security regulation reform and lifting people out of poverty.
To enact these ideas we need a Republican president willing to sign them into law"
Mr. Ryan wrote. Thats why when he sealed the nomination I could not offer my support for
Donald Trump before discussing policies and basic principles."
