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Ryan on government funding: "Things are going to be done a little differently"

Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday laid out a plan that will allow House Republicans to provide feedback on outstanding spending bills before the Dec. 11 deadline to fund the government.

"Instead of me deciding in the Capitol how it's going to be, we are asking our members how we want to proceed going forward," Ryan said at his first solo press conference as speaker.

The House has already passed six appropriations bills for the current fiscal year and Ryan said appropriators are already holding negotiations on them to ensure that they comply with the new budget deal.

For the six remaining spending bills that have not been voted on yet, Ryan said Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Kentucky, would meet with rank and file so every Republican can "give their input on their priorities."

"Things are going to be done a little differently around here," Ryan said about the strategy.

Conservatives complained under Speaker Boehner, R-Ohio, that leadership would almost always negotiate these spending packages in secret and then release them at the last minute, giving lawmakers little time to review the legislation before the final vote.

Speaker Paul Ryan takes questions from media 04:34

In September, however, Boehner decided to hold similar listening sessions over several weeks with House Republicans to discuss how to address Planned Parenthood after an anti-abortion group released videos showing officials discussing the transfer of fetal tissue.

Asked if the final spending package would include any policy riders that target Planned Parenthood, Ryan told reporters Thursday, "I'm not going to predetermine the outcome of negotiations that haven't even happened yet."

Ryan then said the budget reconciliation process would be "our best chance and opportunity of actually getting a bill on the president's desk" that defunds the organization. Mr. Obama would veto such a bill.

"We are moving on Planned Parenthood on multiple fronts," he said.

On CNN's State of the Union Sunday, however, Ryan said it would be difficult to defund the group while President Obama is still in office.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, suggested to reporters at a later press conference that Ryan's plan contradicts his goal to pass legislation through the committee process.

"The fact is that's not governing by committee," she said about the GOP's upcoming sessions.

Congress must pass a new spending package by Dec. 11 or risk a government shutdown.

Ryan said under his leadership, the House has already had a "great week."

Before his press conference Thursday, the House passed a defense policy bill 370-58 and a six-year $325 billion transportation highway funding bill in a 363-64 vote.

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