Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan Blasts Nancy Pelosi's Proposed Caucus Reforms Ahead of Leadership Vote

Rep. Tim Ryan is stepping up his attacks on Rep. Nancy Pelosi as House Democrats prepare to vote for leadership on Wednesday. In a statement, Ryan said that caucus reforms proposed by Pelosi would only serve to "consolidate her power." She has served as the leader of House Democrats for more than 12 years.

From the outside, many initially viewed Ryan's bid for leadership as hopeless. However, the 43-year-old is buoyant and confident ahead of the vote. He told CNN on Tuesday that many people would be surprised by Wednesday's vote and that he was within striking distance of snatching leadership from Pelosi.

In recent weeks, cracks have begun forming in Pelosi's seemingly impenetrable hold on House Democratic leadership. One of her proposed caucus reforms would limit who could serve as the third-ranking leader. She wants to make that position an elected seat open only to lawmakers who have served three terms or less. That would push current third-ranking House Democrat Jim Clyburn, a 12-term congressman from South Carolina, out of a leadership role. That move drew fire from the Congressional Black Caucus, which expressed concern that it would lose sway among the House Democrats and face marginalization.

Ryan jumped on the opening, saying, "Pelosi has also, unfortunately, proposed changing the role of Assistant Democratic Leader — a position which plays an integral role in our Leadership. That is why my proposed reforms would not change this position, but instead would add to the current leadership team a new, elected position reserved for members with three terms or less."

Many of Pelosi's other proposals include requirements for office-holders to have served four or fewer terms. The Hill is reporting that these are her other caucus reform proposals:

• Creation of vice-ranking member positions on each committee, to be held by members who have served four terms or less.
• The creation of five regional vice chairmen of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, to be elected by lawmakers from those regions.
• Making the now-appointed head of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee an elected position reserved for lawmakers serving fewer than three terms.

"There is a clear desire among our members to democratize and decentralize the Democratic Caucus by returning more power to our rank and file members and Committees. Importantly, Pelosi should strongly consider requiring the DCCC Chair be elected in the same manner as the top five members of our leadership — a reform that would ensure the DCCC Chair is not just accountable to the Leader but to the Caucus as a whole," Ryan said in response to the proposals. "It would be helpful to remember that the DCCC works for us and our candidates, we do not work for it."

Part of Ryan's platform is the desperate need for a shakeup in Democratic leadership. After the party suffered a relative beatdown on Election Night, losing the presidency and failing to capture control of the Senate or House of Representatives, many young House Democrats are looking to change the way the party is being run.

Ryan has utilized his home state's bellwether, swing-state reputation and Rust Belt culture to suggest he's the change the House Democrats are looking for. In his statement he again hammered his party's inability to regain control of the Congress.

"As Democrats, we need to take a hard look at our current campaign model, because we keep losing," Ryan said. "We need to reduce the DCCC’s command and control approach, whereby consultants in Washington, DC with little or no local connections are making decisions for campaigns in big cities, small towns, and rural areas of America. We have to create a new model for competing and winning anywhere."

Pelosi has previously claimed to have control of at least two-thirds of the Democrats in the House. Ryan said he spent most of the Thanksgiving break stumping against Pelosi and trying to find out if her hold was really as secure as she believed it to be. Wednesday morning at 9 a.m., the party will decide what direction it will pursue.

Photo from Rep. Tim Ryan's Office