TheChat: Paul Ryan wants to keep his job as speaker

It’s the day before the big day.

▪ “I am interested in staying on as speaker.” — House Speaker Paul Ryan indicating that he plans to seek re-election to his office after the election.

Ryan, who has feuded publicly with Donald Trump, had been the subject of speculation that he might step down. Apparently that’s not the case.

▪ “I would be really surprised if Mitch McConnell were majority leader in January. And frankly, if he were, some of that would be on Director Comey's lap.” — Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, who was still seething on Saturday at the FBI director for revealing that the bureau is again examining Hillary Clinton’s emails.

Comey’s remarks damaged the image of law enforcement in the country, said McCaskill, who spoke on “Meet the Press Daily” before Comey’s announcement Sunday that he would not prosecute Clinton based on the new emails. McCaskill said Comey had undermined Clinton’s momentum.

▪ “Rather than tie our hands now, I think we should allow our state to continue to be flexible.” — Traci Gleason with the Missouri Budget Project, which opposes Amendment 4 that would prohibit lawmakers from placing new sales taxes on services.

The move is seen as a preemptive strike as there’s no major push within the GOP-led General Assembly is actively pass a tax on services. Gleason said times change, and the state may need the revenue from taxes on services someday down the road.

▪ “They have a right to have the courts reflect their values.” — Kathy Ostrowski, Kansans for Life’s legislative director, speaking of voters who will decide whether to retain state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges on Tuesday.

Kansans for Life added four Court of Appeals judges to their target list, based on mailings the group has mailed. The group’s concern is a ruling from the Court of Appeals that could endanger abortion restrictions.

This story was originally published November 6, 2016 at 5:55 AM.