Capitol Hill Buzz: Ryan, Pelosi salute kids at work

WASHINGTON – Often at odds, Democrats and Republicans came together on Thursday to welcome the children of reporters and congressional staff at Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, a father of three who has said he won’t give up family time for his job, invited children to his weekly news conference. They weren’t allowed to ask questions, per press gallery rules, but he took a photo with them afterward.

“This is just so cute,” Ryan, R-Wis., said when he walked out to the podium, facing the group of reporters and children.

He tried to use the kids to dodge a question about his predecessor, former Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who called presidential candidate Ted Cruz “Lucifer in the flesh.”

“There are children here, watch what you say next,” Ryan admonished the reporters.

He added that he has “a much better relationship than that” with Cruz, the Texas senator, and his job is to unify the party.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., a doting grandmother, started the tradition of inviting children to her news conferences on the special work day when she served as speaker from 2007-11.

On Thursday, Pelosi sat down with a group of children in her office, asked them about their favourite subjects in school and gave them a specialty from her San Francisco district — chocolates.