WASHINGTON, DC – With House Republicans preparing to roll out a policy agenda for the upcoming election, The Ripon Society held a luncheon discussion yesterday afternoon with five senior staff members from the office of House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is the architect of the agenda and the driving force in the effort to provide GOP candidates with a positive message this year.
“We appreciated Team Ryan taking time out of their schedules to join us for lunch yesterday afternoon,” stated Jim Conzelman, the President and CEO of The Ripon Society. “Every week is a busy one when you work for the Speaker of the House. But with House Republicans preparing to roll out their Agenda Project in the coming days, this week is probably even busier than most. We appreciated having the opportunity to learn more about this agenda and some of the policy initiatives that may be in it.The senior staff members included: Dave Hoppe, a veteran of Capitol Hill who serves as Chief of Staff to the Speaker; Joyce Meyer, a longtime aide to Ryan who now serves as his Deputy Chief of Staff; Brendan Buck, a veteran GOP communicator who serves as Chief Communications Adviser for the Speaker; Austin Smythe, a longtime Ryan hand who serves as Policy Director; and, Anne Bradbury, another veteran GOP leadership aide who now serves as Director of Floor Operations for the Speaker.
“The Agenda Project is an important effort to say the least. It will not only provide Republican candidates with a positive message to run on this year, but is something that will reaffirm what has become one of the cornerstones of Ryan’s Speakership — namely, that the GOP must be a party of ideas in order to succeed.”
“The Agenda Project is an important effort to say the least. It will not only provide Republican candidates with a positive message to run on this year, but is something that will reaffirm what has become one of the cornerstones of Ryan’s Speakership — namely, that the GOP must be a party of ideas in order to succeed.”
According to Conzelman, yesterday’s luncheon discussion with Team Ryan was attended by a crowd of over 120 people. He noted that the luncheon follows up on a similar discussion The Ripon Society held on March 30th with top aides from the staff of the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, otherwise known as Team Brady. Conzelman further noted that future events The Ripon Society will be hosting include: a breakfast discussion with Senator Roger Wicker on June 9th; a breakfast discussion with Senator Thom Tillis on June 15th; and, a breakfast discussion with U.S. Reps. Todd Young, Joe Heck, and Charles Boustany on June 22nd.
The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 — Ripon, Wisconsin. One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success. These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.
To view additional photos of yesterday’s luncheon discussion, please click here.