News from The Ripon Society October 23, 2014 Ripon Society Hosts Discussion with Team Scalise WASHINGTON, DC – The Ripon Society held a luncheon discussion yesterday afternoon with five staff members from the Office of the House Majority Whip, who discussed, among other topics, the GOP’s message heading into November and the possibility that Congress will hold a Lame Duck session before the end of the year. The staff members participating in the discussion included: Lynnel Ruckert, who serves as Chief of Staff to Majority Whip Steve Scalise (LA-1); Parker Poling, who serves as Chief of Staff to Chief Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry (NC-10); Brett Horton, who serves as Director of Floor Operations for the Whip’s Office; Bill Hughes, who serves as the Whip’s Policy Director; and, Moira Bagley Lynnel Ruckert, Chief of Staff to Majority Whip Steve Scalise, delivers Smith, who serves as Director of Communications. opening remarks at The Ripon Society’s discussion yesterday afternoon. “It’s hard to remember a time that was so unsettled in the weeks leading up to an election,” stated Jim Conzelman, the Conzelman further noted that yesterday’s discussion was President & CEO of the Ripon Society. “From the crisis in held as part of The Ripon Society’s 2014 Policy & Politics the Ukraine to the threat posed by ISIL to concerns about Series, and was the 23rd discussion held as part of the series a possible outbreak of Ebola in the U.S., it seems like it’s this year. He added that the next event in the series will been one thing after another these past few months. Amid be a discussion entitled, “Six Days Out,” that will focus on all this uncertainty are real questions about the federal the political landscape heading in the mid-term elections response. With trust in government at an all-time low, people and feature Guy Harrison, the former Executive Director are not asking how we meet these threats. Rather, they are of the National Republican Congressional Committee, increasingly asking: “Can we meet these threats?” and Rob Jesmer, the former Executive Director of the “If there is a bright spot in National Republican Senatorial Committee. all this, it rests in the fact that ”From the crisis in the there are individual Americans The Ripon Society is a public working to make a difference and Ukraine to the threat posed by policy organization that was solve these problems each and ISIL to concerns about a possible founded in 1962 and takes its every day. We were fortunate outbreak of Ebola in the U.S., it name from the town where the to be joined yesterday by five of Republican Party was born in these individuals, who, in their seems like it’s been one thing after 1854 – Ripon, Wisconsin. One jobs with the House Majority another these past few months. of the main goals of The Ripon Whip’s office, are working to not Amid all this uncertainty are Society is to promote the ideas only restore competence to the real questions about the federal and principles that have made federal government, but restore America great and contributed people’s faith that government response.” to the GOP’s success. These can get something done. ideas include keeping our nation According to Conzelman, yesterday’s discussion was secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government attended by a crowd of nearly 100 people and follows up on that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people. a similar discussion The Ripon Society held with members For more information on The Ripon Society, please visit of the House Majority Leader’s office earlier this fall. www.riponsociety.org. RS

www.riponsociety.org Ripon Society Discussion with the Majority Whip’s Staff October 22, 2014

Parker Poling Bill Hughes

Chris Vieson

Brett Horton Moira Bagley Smith

A crowd of nearly 100 attended the discussion with the Majority Whip’s staff

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