Paul Ryan, elected 54th speaker, pledges to fix 'broken' House

........................Paul Ryan was sworn in as speaker of the House....................

Erin Kelly, USA TODAY 2:22 p.m. EDT October 29, 2015

Paul Ryan was sworn in as the 54th speaker of the House. He remarked that, to him, the House represents the best of America, but that it is broken and needs fixing. USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Newly elected Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday it is time to fix a "broken" House and begin solving the nation's problems instead of adding to them.

"The American people make this country work, and the House should work for them," Ryan said in a speech on the House floor after his election. "What a relief it would be to the American people if we finally got our act together. What a weight off their shoulders."

Ryan was elected the 54th speaker of the House as his colleagues looked to the Wisconsin Republican to help unite his fractious party and end the constant crises that have come to dominate the chamber in recent years.

He received 236 of the 432 votes cast. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., received 184. Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., got 9 votes. A handful of other people got a total of three votes.




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