House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan is deciding whether to seek the US House of Representatives’ speaker job, fellow Republican lawmakers said yesterday after they met behind closed doors to try to settle their leadership battle.

Speaking to reporters the day after House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy abruptly dropped his bid to become speaker, Representative Darrell Issa of California said he had no second choice if Ryan sticks by his announcement on Thursday that he would not seek the post.

“Although he’s ruled himself out, it’s very clear he’s reconsidering,” Mr Issa told reporters as he exited the meeting. “The fact is, his time is now.”

Mr Issa said that if Ryan declines, he himself might seek the job to replace retiring House Speaker John Boehner.

Finding a replacement for Boehner has consumed Republicans as Congress faces a series of pressing decisions, from raising the government’s borrowing authority to funding federal agencies through September.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart advised Washington politicians to settle their differences over fiscal matters promptly, saying the uncertainty hurts confidence in the US economy.

Further complicating matters is that the House is set to take a recess next week.

The race for speaker of the Republican-dominated House was upended when front-runner McCarthy dropped out, saying he could not get enough support to win. Boehner had planned to leave Congress on October 30 but said he would stay until a replacement is elected.

Speaker candidates are Representatives Daniel Webster of Florida and Jason Chaffetz of Utah.

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