Rep. Tom Price won’t run for GOP leadership

Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) has decided not to run for a position in the House Republican leadership.

{mosads}Price was floated as a possible candidate to replace House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), and had hinted he was considering a bid. But on Thursday Price said he would instead pursue the gavel of the House Budget Committee.

“The encouragement I’ve received from colleagues over these past couple of days has been humbling. My position has always been that I’m ready to serve in whatever capacity might best help unify our team, promote our conservative principles and, above all, pursue positive solutions on behalf of our constituents.

“To that end, at this time, my focus is on the opportunity to serve as the next chairman of the House Budget Committee,” Price said in a statement.

Price is currently the vice chairman of the Budget Committee.

The Budget gavel is expected to be up for grabs next year because the panel’s current chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), is expected to move over to lead the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over taxes.