With Senate passage of a sweeping immigration bill imminent, Ryan has been meeting with House conservatives to persuade them that reform of the immigration system, including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, is an economic necessity and critical to fixing the nation's fiscal problems.
"I would bet you a nickel that he has had more face time with each member than anyone else in the caucus," said [Grover] Norquist, an influential conservative who also believes immigration reform is vital to the economy.
Ryan's advocacy is clashing with GOP Speaker John Boehner, who said today that "we'll do our own bill." It's unlikely that Ryan's advocacy would overtake Speaker Boehner's desire to do a completely separate House bill, or do take up different immigration provisions on a piecemeal basis. But Ryan's advocacy continues to be notable in the face of a conservative opposition that continues to line up against the Senate's approach - especially considering his stature in the conservative movement.
The Senate proposal will likely pass on Thursday or Friday this week, at which point it's up to GOP leadership in the House to take it up.