Ryan may hint of future in CPAC speech

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WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., could tip his plans for 2014 and possibly beyond during his speech before the Conservative Political Action Conference, observers said.

Ryan, the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee, unveiled his budget blueprint earlier this week and his speech Friday before CPAC gives him a forum to discuss his budget in particular or his economic vision for the country, The Hill reported.

The Budget Committee chairman said on "Fox News Sunday" campaigning for vice president made a possible presidential run "more realistic." He also said if he remained in the House, he'd rather be a policy shaper and not run for a House leadership position.

"If I wanted to be in elected leadership like speaker, I would have run for these jobs years ago. I've always believed the better place for me is in policy leadership, like being a chairman," Ryan said Sunday.

After the 2014 midterm election, Ryan will have to announce whether he will run seek the presidency or push for the Ways and Means chairmanship should Republicans retain control of the House, The Hill said. He could do both, but observers said that would be impractical because he would have to focus on the campaign.

Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, has more seniority than Ryan on Ways and Means although Ryan would be considered the favorite should he seek the job, The Hill said. The current chairman, Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, is term-limited.

"There is a tension between whether he wants to be a [Ways and Means] committee chairman or president," GOP strategist Matt Mackowiak told The Hill. "He's going to have to make that decision in January of 2015, after the election, around the same time he would need to be launching a presidential campaign."