Rep. Tom Price keeps his options open

Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), the vice chairman of the House Budget Committee, is weighing whether to seek the budget panel’s chairmanship or go after a leadership post now that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.) is stepping down.

Price is in line to replace Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) as Budget Committee chairman, but would not say whether he wants his name to be part of the leadership discussion, laughing off repeated questioning.

“Now is the time to thank Eric for the wonderful service that he provided and to have a family meeting, and that’s what we’re going to do this afternoon — the Republican family,” said Price.

{mosads}”It’s important to have that family discussion,” he added.

Cantor announced he will depart from his House leadership post by July 31, following a shocking primary loss to Tea Party-backed professor Dave Brat on Tuesday night. “I was as surprised and shocked as anybody. Eric is a dear friend, and he served wonderfully his district, his state and our country,” Price said.

As for any policy lessons that Republicans can learn from Cantor’s loss, the Georgia lawmaker said it’s too early to tell.

“It’ll be a long time before people will figure out why what happened happened,” he said.