Mark Meadows, House Freedom Caucus member, says Paul Ryan has clear path to become House speaker

A key member of the House Freedom Caucus that nudged Speaker John A. Boehner into early retirement said Sunday that Rep. Paul Ryan has a clear path to the speakership, after the Wisconsin Republican sat down and cleared the air over issues that made hard-line conservatives leery about the young star’s bid.

Rep. Mark Meadows, North Carolina Republican, said two-thirds of the caucus were able to throw their support behind Mr. Ryan after he assured them that rank-and-file members would have a voice in what comes to the floor, including their opposition to President Obama’s vision for comprehensive immigration reform.

“He’s agreed to not move anything without the majority of the majority on that particular issue forward, which would actually make sure that every member has a voice on immigration,” Mr. Meadows told “Fox News Sunday.”

Though reluctant to take the job, Mr. Ryan agreed to run for speaker after three major factions of the party united behind his agenda. The former vice presidential candidate also said he won’t give up his family time, and that members shouldn’t be able to oust the speaker, or “vacate the chair,” so easily.

That raised doubts about Mr. Ryan’s candidacy among members like Mr. Meadows, whose own motion to vacate the chair had dogged Mr. Boehner, but they have agreed to work it out.

“Chairman Ryan is working with us to see how we can address that particular issue. But to change something century-old for a speaker election today doesn’t seem like those two fit together. And I think that reasonable minds can come together and find a path forward,” Mr. Meadows said of Mr. Ryan, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

With wide support of the House Republican Conference in hand, Mr. Ryan is set to win the speaker election in conference and then gather 218 votes on the floor this week, even as he faces opposition from Rep. Daniel Webster, the Florida Republican that some members of the Freedom Caucus prefer.

“I can tell you that there are a number of conversations that are happening almost around the clock to make sure the rules and the way that we do business here in Washington, D.C., gets changed,” Mr. Meadows said. “I think there needs to be a down payment, a good faith effort to say, we’re going to flatten this process out, make sure that the rank and file members and, more importantly, the American people have a voice in what a positive agenda might be for America.”