Budget Issues

Star Ledger: Paul Ryan and His Party Are Trying to Subvert Upward Mobility In November 2011, New Jerseys Star-Ledger wrote an editorial criticizing Ryan for blockading the very same upward mobility upon which he claimed our nation was founded.

The Star-Ledger wrote, Its the principle our country was founded on: With plenty of hard work, anyone can climb up in the ranks. Trouble is, Republicans have been doing everything in their power to subvert that For Ryan and his party, who have too long ignored Americans on the bottom rung, what it should be is a wake-up call. [NJ.com, 11/06/11]
Said Budget Proposal Was Part of 2012 Republican Election Strategy, Especially for a Strong Presidential Candidate In July 2011, Ryan said, Part of my thinking in doing the budget and doing what were doing in 2011 is to raise the bar and standards (for) whoever our nominee is going to be so we dont just give it to next guy in the line so that 2012 is a very clear election. All these past elections have been muddled elections, sort of muddled differences, personality contests We need a clear referendum election, so that when we win, we have the moral obligation, the moral authority to fix this problem. It forces not only Republican candidates to get specific and be clear, it forces us to give the country the choice, so the country can chose in 2012 what direction it wants to take. [JSOnline, 7/23/11] Op-Ed: Budget Reduces Tax Loopholes In a May 2011 op-ed, Ryan wrote his budget plan reduced or eliminated loopholes and carve-outs that are distorting economic incentives. He said the Presidents plan would lead to permanently higher taxes. [Chicago Tribune, 5/15/11] Op-Ed: Shared Scarcity Would Lead to Diminished Future In a May 2011 op-ed, Ryan criticized the notion that shared sacrifice was necessary to address the debt threat. He called the idea shared scarcity and warned it would lead us to a diminished future. He rejected shared sacrifice as a pessimistic view for the future. [Chicago Tribune, 5/15/11]

Impact of the Republican Budget on Medicare

According to the Energy and Commerce Committee, Ryans budget affected Congressman Ryans district in the following ways:

Increase prescription drug costs for 9,700 Medicare beneficiaries in the district who enter the Part D donut hole, forcing them to pay an extra $95 million for drugs over the next decade. Eliminate new preventive care benefits for 112,000 Medicare beneficiaries in the district. Deny 550,000 individuals age 54 and younger in the district access to Medicares guaranteed benefits. Increase the out-of-pocket costs of health coverage by over $6,000 per year in 2022 and by almost $12,000 per year in 2032 for the 127,000 individuals in the district who are between the ages of 44 and 54. Require the 127,000 individuals in the district between the ages of 44 and 54 to save an additional $29.7 billion for their retirement an average of $182,000 to $287,000 per individual to pay for

the increased cost of health coverage over their lifetimes. Younger residents of the district will have to save even higher amounts to cover their additional medical costs. Raise the Medicare eligibility age by at least one year to age 66 or more for 70,000 individuals in the district who are age 44 to 49 and by two years to age 67 for 419,000 individuals in the district who are age 43 or younger. [Committee on Energy and Commerce, June 2011]

Ryan Planned to Cut $100 Billion from Federal Spending by 2012. In January 2011, Ryan reiterated his pledge to dramatically cut spending in his role at House Budget Committee Chairman. He said he wants to cut $60 billion in spending through fiscal year 2011 and potentially $100 billion through 2012. [The Hill, On the Money Blog, 1/07/11] Warned of Draconian and European-Like Fiscal Problems If His Budget Cuts Were Not Considered In January 2011, Ryan responded to criticisms that his budget cuts, particularly in the Ryan Roadmap, were draconian by arguing that not doing anything would be draconian. He said, "I would say that what is draconian is doing nothing and lying to the American people about these fiscal problems that we have. What is draconian is procrastinating on fixing our fiscal problems, because then you will have European kinds of austerity." [ABC News, 1/26/11] WaPo Op-Ed: Ryan Is No Fiscal Hawk Greg Sargent, in a contributing piece to the Washington Post, wrote that Paul Ryan is no fiscal hawk for several reasons. First, despite attacking Obama for ignoring several recommendations from the commission that Ryan himself served on, Ryan had also voted against the same initiatives. Sargent also wrote that Ryan defies what a fiscal hawk should be because he previously supported expanding Medicare under President George Bush while voting against the Bowles-Simpson plan. [Washington Post, 2/17/11]

Still Plans to Make Drastic Cuts to Entitlements in FY 2012 Budget In March 2011, Ryan said he plans to offer massive cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, but acknowledges he wont balance the budget.
He said, If you want to be honest with the fiscal problem and the debt, it really is a health care problem. If you look at the future of our debt, it primarily comes from our health care entitlements. We have to reform those if we are going to get this debt crisis under control." [Associated Press, 3/11/11] Voted against Plan He Helped to Craft In March 2011, Ryan was a GOP appointee to Presdient Obama's fiscal commission, but he voted against its deficit-reduction plan, saying it didn't do enough to slow the exploding cost of federal health care programs. [Associated Press, 3/11/11] Ryan on GOP Budget: We are Giving Them a Political Weapon to Go Against Us In April 2011, Ryan admitted that the changes he proposed to Medicare would be politically unpopular. He said, "We are we are giving them a political weapon to go against us. But they will have to lie and demagogue to make it a weapon against us." [Politico, 4/03/11] Claimed that Medicare Changes in 2012 Budget Is Not a Voucher System

Ryan recommends changing Medicare to a premium support system claiming that it is very different from a voucher system [Politico, 4/03/11] Wanted to Emulate the Medicare Advantage Program for All Medicare Enrollees He said of his proposal for Medicare in the FY2012 budget, [I]t works like the Medicare prescription drug benefit similar to Medicare Advantage that we have today, which means Medicare puts a list of plans out there that competes for your business and seniors pick the plan of their choosing, and then Medicare subsidizes the cost of that plan. [Politico, 4/03/11] Said Town Halls Concerning His Budget Were Larger than 2009 Health Care Town Halls While hosting a series of town halls in the district, Ryan said that the crowds were larger than those during the August 2009 health care town hall sessions. [Politico, 4/26/11]

Ryan Called for Ending Oil Subsidies

According to Politico, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan called for ending oil subsidies Thursday, further complicating Republican efforts to stay on message about rising gas prices. The Wisconsin Republican told constituents at a Waterford, Wis., town hall meeting that he agreed that federal oil subsidies ought to end. [Politico, 4/28/11; ThinkProgress Video, 4/28/11]

Supported Tweaking His 2012 Budget Proposal, Especially Medicare Vouchers In April 2011, Ryan revealed he believed his budget proposal could be tweaked. Ryan said the criticism over his subsidies for seniors being too low was a very debatable, reasonable and negotiable point. [The
Hill, 4/30/11]

Business and Consumer Issues

Op-Ed: Class Warfare Distracts from Inequities of Corporate Welfare In a May 2011 op-ed, Ryan wrote class warfare distracts us from the true sources of inequity in this country. According to Ryan, corporate welfare that enriches the powerful and empty promises that betray the powerless are the true sources of inequity, rather than class stratification. [Chicago Tribune, 5/15/11]

Campaign & Campaign Finance Issues

Madison.com: Ryans pay-to-speak politics offensive PDF is saved on the drive. [Madison.com, 8/24/11] Started Using Mass Conference Call Technology Because Hes a National Target In July 2011, Ryan said mass conference call technology has allowed him to communicate directly with large numbers of constituents and, along with the end of straight-ticket voting, improve his re-election chances. He said, Im going to have to communicate more because nationally Ive become a target I am getting more organic support from constituents that Ive ever gotten. [JSOnline, 7/23/11] Said His Crossover Appeal Will Help Him in WIs Elimination of Straight-Ticket Voting

The elimination of straight-ticket voting will help because he claims he appeals to crossover voters: Ive been through a lot of nationalized elections. Ive always been able to cross the current Now that we dont have straight ticket voting, its even easier. [JSOnline, 7/23/11] Colluded to Create Safer District after Redistricting In July 2011, Politico reported that Ryan had called Democratic Rep. Ron Kind to propose mutual support for a redistricting plan that would strengthen their districts as well as Rep. Duffys district. Ryan rejected a counteroffer to shore up his district and Kinds while leaving Duffy untouched. [Politico, 7/18/11] Asked Supporters to Come to Rally to Counteract UAW Protest In June 2011 towards the end of the second fundraising quarter, Ryan sent an email to his supporters asking for their presence at the Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade, noting that the UAW was organizing a protest against him at the parade. [Politico, 6/29/11] Ads Appeared on Craigslist Mocking Ryans Plea for Parade Walkers Shortly after sending his campaign email asking for parade walkers to join him, Craigslist ads appeared mocking Ryan for his seemingly desperate plea for supporters in exchange for small flags. The ad (planted by the WI Dem Party and DCCC staff), read, Third most unpopular Republican politician in the country desperately seeks ANYONE who will stand by him in local Fourth of July Parade. Walking with Congressman Ryan does not guarantee your support of his plan to end Medicare. It is merely the start of the conversation. Small flags will be provided! Please note that under Ryan's plan for this Sunday's Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade, the flags will not be rationed. They will be distributed through a premium support system. Parade walkers are also encouraged to start P90X training for the route. [Politico, 6/30/11] Raised Nearly $900,000 in Q2 2011 Ryan raised nearly $900,000 in the second quarter of 2011. The fundraising left him with $3.8 million in cash-on-hand at the end of the quarter. [National Journal, 7/08/11] Nonpartisan Nuclear Reduction Group Targeted Ryan in Radio Ads for Deep Cuts to the US Nuclear Security Program In March 2011, Talking Points Memo reported that radio ads featuring a retired Army general targeted Ryan for making the US more susceptible to terrorist attacks. Targeted Paul Ryan - A retired Army general, Lt. Gen. Robert Gard, is taking to the radio to call out leaders of the Republican party for making it more likely we'll be blown up by a terrorist's nuclear bomb after supporting "deep cuts to the U.S. Government's signature nuclear security program to remove highly enriched uranium and other dangerous nuclear materials from countries in the former Soviet Union and other unstable regions around the world." Gard is a veteran of the Vietnam and Korean wars and a top official at Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, a nonpartisan group (with center-left lean) focused on reducing the spread of nuclear weapons and other threats. The Center said the House budget bill cut $551 million from the White House's request for the Energy Department's National Nuclear Security Administration. As a result, the group says, the likelihood of a nuclear terrorist attack will go up. [Talking Points Memo, 3/24/11] Huffington Post: Paul Ryan Supports Rick Perry: Social Security Is A Ponzi Scheme A PDF is saved on the drive. [Huffington Post, 9/20/11]

Keynotes Indiana Republican Fundraiser, On The Basis of Being a Reformer of Entitlement Programs

In September 2011, Paul Ryan served as keynote speaker at the Indiana Republican Partys fall dinner with Gov. Mitch Daniels and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. He was chosen because of Republicans admire him for leading the charge on entitlement reform. Chairman of the Indiana Republican Party, Eric Holcomb, said of Ryans appearance, Hoosier Republicans are laser-focused on the issue of America's mounting deficits and debt. His message and vision for economic growth and job creation will be well-received in Indiana." [North West Indiana Times, 9/19/11]

Debt Ceiling
Complained Hard-Line Republicans Complicated Debt Ceiling Negotiations In July 2011, Ryan complained the no caucus was weakening the Republicans in debt ceiling negotiations. He said, The debt limit is an opportunity to cut spending. We cannot have irrational expectations when we control one-half of one-third of the government. [National Review, 7/18/11]

District Issues
Refused to Discuss Gov. Walker and State Politics In July 2011, Ryan said he would not weigh in on the collective bargaining and budget fights in Wisconsin and that those issues would not impact his re-election. He said, A lot of people are mad at Madison but I think they put me in a different (category) I just say Im a federal guy Why would I get involved in that fight when Ive got my own? Im supportive of what (Republicans in Madison) are trying to do (but) I havent weighed in on that stuff. [JSOnline, 7/23/11]

Ryan: "...it's like Cairo has moved to Madison these days." In response to the protests from public employees that occurred at the capitol in February 2011, Ryan said, "It's not asking a lot, it's still about half of what private sector pensions do and health care packages do. So he's [the Governor is] basically saying, I want you public workers to pay half of what our private sector counterparts and he's getting riots -- it's like Cairo has moved to Madison these days," [RealClearPolitics.com, 2/17/11]
Politico: Ryan boots rowdy protester According to Politico, Rep. Paul Ryan had local police remove a man from his town hall meeting Friday after he kept yelling about how Ryans budget plan would impact Medicare. It was the most dramatic moment yet in Ryans weeklong series of town halls, and it happened in one of the most Democratic areas of his district. Ryan warned the man once and then asked the cops to get him out. Were going to ask you to leave if youre not going to be a polite person, Ryan said. [Politico, 4/29/11] Politico: Ryan crowd gets loud According to Politico, Rep. Paul Ryan met his most vocal opposition to his budget plan Thursday in his last town hall meeting of the day. The crowd, packed into a high school auditorium in this Milwaukee suburb, responded with skeptical boos when he said his proposed changes to Medicare would provide seniors with benefits similar to those of a member of Congress or wouldnt affect those over age 55. [Politico, 4/28/11] Politico: Ryan dodges protesters in police car

According to Politico, GOP Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan had to leave his last and most raucous town hall meeting Tuesday Elvis-style ducking out a back entrance on advice of police as protesters surrounded his car. Ryan held four community meetings in his southeastern Wisconsin district Tuesday, and two of them attracted so many attendees that crowds of people including reporters were left waiting outside. The meeting in Kenosha, held in a hall with a capacity for 300, had an additional 200 gathered outside, with many of them protesting Ryan's plan to change Medicare. After the Kenosha meeting, Ryan had to leave with police to avoid some protesters who had surrounded his car, he told TMJ4, a Milwaukee media outlet. [Politico, 4/27/11]
FOX 6: Protesters meet Congressman Paul Ryan at Kenosha luncheon Saved PDF to drive. [FOX 6, 8/11/11] Journal Sentinel: Protesters at Ryan's Kenosha office kept out of [Journal Sentinel, 8/24/11] Journal Sentinel: Protesters at Ryan's Kenosha office kept out of On the fifth day of a sit-in at U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan's Kenosha office Wednesday, police were called to prevent those participating from entering the building. Ryan spokesman Conor Sweeney said the Janesville Republican and the building's owner asked Kenosha police to keep the sit-in participants out of the building. There were no arrests, and the demonstrators protested outside on the public sidewalk. Sweeney said the protesters were disrupting the business of the Kenosha office and said a similar sit-in in Ryan's Racine office has been allowed to continue. "Efforts continue to be made to make sure their voices are heard and their opinions are shared and there's an ongoing dialogue," Sweeney said of the demonstrators. Sgt. James Heiring of the Kenosha Police Department said the demonstrators had complied with the order. [Journal Sentinel, 8/24/11] FOX 6: Protesters meet Congressman Paul Ryan at Kenosha luncheon

Protesters showed up to ask Congressman Ryan where the jobs are and Ryan told us he's concerned about the same issue. [] Protester Shanon Molina says, He's cutting programs that people are depending on right now while this recession is kicking in, and we're just wondering when they're going to finally start listening to us and help us out. Protester Mike Peltier says, Money that could be used to develop individual skills of people who are unemployed being given away to corporations and what we see with that process is some of the companies are just taking their money and running. [FOX 6, 8/11/11]

Economic and Financial Issues

Said He Wants the Federal Reserve to Ignore Interest Rates Management In February 2011, Ryan said he feared the Federal Reserves policy, known as quantitative easing, which injects $600 billion into the economy from the purchases of long-term Treasuries, will cause inflation to accelerate rapidly, forming asset bubbles and crushing the dollar.

Ryan said he wanted the Fed to pull back the reins and tighten monetary policy, rather than keep interest rates low. [CNN Money, 2/09/11] Wanted to Take Away Role of Federal Reserve in Protecting Job Creation In February 2011, Ryan said he wants to change the Federal Reserve Act, to eliminate the job creation part of the Fed's job. The Federal Reserve is responsible for a dual mandate that includes keeping prices in check as well as encouraging job creation. [CNN Money, 2/09/11]
Claimed USA Has Only Two Year Window to Address Deficit In 2012, Ryan claimed that the U.S. has only two years left to address the deficit. We really think we have this one window left, Ryan said. [Milwaukie Journal Sentinel, 3/13/12]

Education Issues Energy Issues

Called To End Oil Subsidies In April 2011, Ryan complicated efforts rallying against rising gas prices by calling for an end to oil subsidies.
Were talking about reforming the safety net, the welfare system; we also want to get rid of corporate welfare. And corporate welfare goes to agribusiness companies, energy companies, financial services companies, so we propose to repeal all that, he said about oil subsidies. [Politico, 4/28/11; Video here]

Environmental Issues Ethics Issues

Received Campaign Donations from Man Accused of Sexual Assault of a Child In 2011, a frequent campaign donor to Ryans congressional campaign account was accused of repeated sexual assault of a child. Samuel Curtis Johnson III, a billionaire member of the S.C. Johnson & Sons company, was released in March 2011 on $500,000 bail after being accused of 10 to 15 incidents over several years against a child who, at the time of print, was 15 years old. Johnson also donated $15,000 to the NRCC in June 2009. [Roll Call, 3/30/11]

Note: There was no immediate evidence Ryan had returned the money
Dinner with Hedge Fund Manager and Economist Included $350 Wine In July 2011, Ryan shared a dinner with an economist and hedge fund manager during which he purchased a $350 bottle of Pinot Noir wine at the Capitol Hill eatery Bistro Bis. John Cochrane, the economist, and Cliff Asness, the hedge fund manager, are both anti-bailout, and Asness is a vocal opponent of the president. Ryan claimed he did not order the bottle himself, but did not dispute the account and said he paid $472 for his portion of the meal. [Talking Points Memo, 7/09/11, 7/08/11]

Challenged to Give Up Government Health Insurance In July 2011, the Council of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) challenged the five members of Wisconsins House delegation who voted to end Medicare to give up their government health insurance. They targeted Reps. Ribble, Petri, Duffy, Sensenbrenner, and Ryan. [The Cap Times, 7/15/11] Ryan spent $268,471.48 in Q4 2010 In the fourth quarter, Ryan spent $268,471.48 total in his congressional offices. [Statement of Disbursements, 3/01/11] Ryan spent $2,580.48 on Franked Mail in Q4 2010 In the fourth quarter, Ryan spent $2,580.48 solely on franked mail. [Statement of Disbursements, 3/01/11] Ryan spent $12,839.19 on Travel in Q4 2010 In the fourth quarter, Ryan spent $12,839.19 total in travel expenses. [Statement of Disbursements, 3/01/11]

Ryan: I didnt know what I was voting for

In March 2011, Ryan admitted that he did not know what he was voting for when he cast the deciding vote in favor of saving funding for Project Labor Agreements. Ryan said his vote was just a mistake, and that four or five other Republicans made the same mistake. [Washington Times Blog, 3/06/11]

Foreign Policy Issues Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea

Supported Limited Footprint in Afghanistan In 2012, Ryan said he supported a limited footprint in Afghanistan to combat terrorism there. [WRN, 3/12/12]

Health Care Issues

Defended Medicare Plan after Failed Special Election In May 2011, Ryan defended his Medicare plan despite acknowledging Republicans were nervous about the impact of the plan on the New York special election. He said Democrats were distorting the facts, but his party had a year to get the facts out. He predicted voters would reward GOP legislators for trying to fix problems rather than trying to scare people. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/25/11] Blamed Loss of Special Election on Third Party and Democrats Attacks In May 2011, Ryan said Republicans lost the New York special election because an independent candidate took votes from the Republican candidate. He said Democratic demagogueryhas worked in the past, but also said people are getting tired of the attacks. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/25/11] Op-Ed: Presidents Budget Plan Would Lead to Healthcare Rationing In a May 2011 op-ed, Ryan wrote the Presidents budget plan would lead to waiting lists and denied care for todays seniors. The Presidents plan to control Medicare costs as part of a broader effort to reign in spending would lead to board of 15 unelected bureaucrats would be given more power to deeply ration Medicare spending in ways that would disrupt the lives of

those in retirement, leading to waiting lists and denied care for today's seniors, according to Ryan. [Chicago Tribune, 5/15/11] Op-Ed: Ryan Budget Controls Healthcare Spending by Empowering Americans In a May 2011 op-ed, Ryan said the House budget reduced health care spending by empowering Americans to fight back against skyrocketing costs. [Chicago Tribune, 5/15/11] Op-Ed: Promised No Changes for Retirees and Near-Retirees In a May 2011 op-ed, Ryan promised no changes for those in or near retirement while providing a strengthened Medicare program for the future. He advocated a new plan with guaranteed coverage options, less help for the wealthy, and more help for the poor and sick. [Chicago Tribune, 5/15/11] Op-Ed: Medicare Causing Healthcare Cost Inflation In a May 2011 op-ed, Ryan said Medicare was driving increases in health-care costs, rather than health-care costs driving increases in Medicare spending. Ryan cited widespread, bipartisan agreement that Medicare is the engine of health-care cost inflation. [Chicago Tribune, 5/15/11] Pitched Health Care Repeal In September 2011, Ryan pitched a health care replacement proposal that would be the counter to President Obamas health care bill. In this proposal the government would give a limited contribution to Americans health care plans, a plan he also used for Medicare and Medicaid in his 2012 budget proposal. He wanted to expand the plan to workplace health insurance by giving people a refundable tax credit to assist in purchasing coverage. Furthermore, Ryan said, We know that the first step toward real, bipartisan advances in health policy must start with a full repeal of the presidents partisan law,But the case for repeal must be matched with even greater intensity by a case for replace replacing the law with structural reforms and real solutions to the problems Americans are facing in health care. According to Politico, Ryan also said the current model tilts the compensation scale toward benefits and allows high-income earners to artificially reduce their taxable income by purchasing high-cost health coverage which in turn can fuel the overuse of health services. Under his new model the government would make a defined contribution to help Americans obtain access to health care, capped and adjustable to help the poor. [Politico, 9/27/11]

Immigration and Border Issues Israel Labor and Working Family Issues
Voted against Representative Guintas Amendment to Eliminate Funding for PLAs In February 2011, Ryan voted against an amendment offered by Representative Frank Guinta (R-NH) to the Republicans proposed continuing resolution, HR 1, that would have prevented federal funds from being used for construction projects requiring a project labor agreement.
The amendment failed on a tie vote, 210-210. [HR 1, Vote #126, 2/19/11]

10

LGBT Issues Other Issues

Sent Letter that Seemingly Endorsed SOPA In November 2011, Paul sent an ambiguous letter to a constituent regarding the Stop Online Privacy Act that seemed to imply the congressman supported the legislation. While not forthright coming out in support of HR 3261, in the letter, Ryan wrote, This bill would aim to crack down on rouge websites dedicated to the sale of infringing or counterfeit goods. It narrows the definition of a rogue website, while ensuring that law enforcement can get at the worst-of-the-worst websites dedicated to selling infringing goods. Additionally, the bill will provide law enforcement with tools to stop websites dedicated to online piracy and sale of counterfeit goods, which include new movie and music releases. [Paul Ryan Constituent Letter, 11/17/11] Note: A PDF version of the letter is saved on the drive. Received Considerable Backlash on the Issue and Clarified He Did Not Actually Support SOPA In January 2012, after receiving considerable retaliation for his supposed support of the legislation, Ryan clarified his statement, saying, the Internet is one of the most magnificent expressions of freedom and free enterprise in history and says it should stay that way. [CNN, 1/09/12] Admitted that Republicans Made Mistakes and Got Confused In March 2012, Ryan said Republicans made mistakes in the past and got confused about the principles on crony capitalism and corporate welfare. [WisPolitics, 3/13/12]

Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Entitlement Programs

Agreed that Social Security Is a Ponzi Scheme When asked by host conservative radio host Laura Ingraham whether the country's social insurance program is a Ponzi scheme, Ryan replied, "That is how those schemes workSo if you take a look at the technicality of Ponzi -- I would -- it's not a criminal enterpriseBut it is a pay-as-you-go system where ... earlier investors or, say, taxpayers, get a positive rate of return and the most recent investors -- or taxpayers -- get a negative rate of return." [Huffington Post, 9/20/11]

Called Gingrichs Plan to Allow Seniors Choose Between Medicare And Private Coverage a Fine Idea In April 2011, Ryan said Gingrichs idea to offer seniors a choice between staying on Medicare and opting for private coverage was a fine idea worth considering. [The Hill, 4/30/11]

Personal Issues
Ryans Family Used Social Security Payments to Make Ends Meet

Following his fathers death when he was 16 years old, Ryans family, consisting of his three older brothers and sisters and his mother, collected Social Security benefits until Ryan turned 18.
11

He put the money away for college. [WPRI, Vol. 19, No. 2, July 2010]

Second Amendment Rights Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid

Medicare Advantage Was Ryans Proposal In 2003, Ryan began to garner national attention during the debate over President Bushs proposal to expand prescription drug benefits to seniors through Medicare. Ryan said he is proud of the free market programs he inserted into the final bill (Medicare Advantage, Health Saving Accounts), and believes those are the seeds to a future overhaul of federal entitlement programs. [WPRI, Vol. 19, No. 2, July 2010]

Tax Issues
Ryan Loves Herman Cains 9-9-9 Plan since Hes More of a Flat-Tax Kind of a Guy In October 2011, Ryan said he loves Herman Cains 9-9-9 tax plan and called the plan "specific and credible." He continued, We need more bold ideas like this because it is specific and credible. Im more of a flat-tax kind of a guy. In a later correction to the story, Kevin Seifert, a spokesman for Ryan, clarified late Thursday that the budget committee chairman has not endorsed Cain or the specifics of his 9-9-9 plan, but rather that he loved that it was becoming a starting point for a larger conversation on tax reform. [Daily Caller, 10/14/11] Wanted to Remove Taxes from Exports In a February 2011 interview with the conservative blog Parcbench, Ryan said that the U.S. has the highest tax rate in the industrialized world and used Japan as an example of what the U.S. should look like. He said the U.S. taxes our exports twice while only taxing imports once, thereby providing benefits to push jobs overseas and giving the advantage to foreign competitors. He said, What my bill does is say that if you make a product in America and then send it overseas take the tax off of it, and put an equal tax on our imports. Thats not protectionism its what all of our trade competitors do to us. It puts us on a level playing field. [Parcbench.com, 2/05/11] Said Hed Target Medicare and Medicaid Reform in Next Budget In a February 2011 interview with Politico, Ryan said he would not merely do minor changes to entitlements, he planned on comprehensive health care entitlement reform, other kinds of entitlement reform and committed specifically to reforming Medicare and Medicaid. He said, Were going to look at all of these issues. I cant get into the specifics about what program we are and what program were not going to deal with because we havent written this budget yet. Social Security is a big part of the problem of future debt. Now, as people know now, Social Security is not a contributor to our deficit of any material right now. Social Security is not a big driver of our debt problems. Medicare and Medicaid are the biggest drivers of our future debt problems. [Politico, 2/16/11]

Tea Party
12

Spoke at Secret Super Conservative Conference According to ThinkProgress, Ryans office confirmed he attended a highly secretive political strategy meeting convened by polluter billionaires Charles and David Koch of Koch Industries to coordinate the funding and direction of the conservative movement. [ThinkProgress, 2/02/11]

Koch Brothers Have Donated Nearly $60,000 to Ryans Campaigns Since 1998, KOCHPAC has made 26 contributions totaling $58,000 to Ryan for Congress. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 2/03/11] Appeared at CPAC In February 2011, Ryan appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C. [Journal Sentinel, 2/09/11] Outlashed against Tea Party for Their Seeming Naivet In March 2011, Ryan called out the tea party for their naivety toward eliminating the budget deficit. He said, They literally think you can just balance the budget by cutting waste, fraud and abuse, foreign aid and NPR. And it doesnt work like that. [Politico, 03/11/11] Said No Presidential Hopeful Looked Promising
In a March 2011 interview, Ryan admitted that nobody in the current crop of GOP primary contenders has the personality to be President. When asked who he would support, Ryan did not have a clear answer, but he did make it known that We [Republicans] will lose a personality contest. [Politico, 3/02/11]

Ryan: Democrats Do Not Respect the Rule of the Law

In a February 2011, Ryan criticized Wisconsin Democratic lawmakers who fled the state in an effort to avoid the passage of a budget that comprised state workers collective bargaining rights by calling them fugitives who lack respect for the rule of law. He said, Democratic state legislators who have fled Madison lack respect for the rule of law. [The Hill, 2/24/11]

Ryan: I didnt know what I was voting for

In March 2011, Ryan admitted that he did not know what he was voting for when he cast the deciding vote in favor of saving funding for Project Labor Agreements. Ryan said his vote was just a mistake, and that four or five other Republicans made the same mistake. [Washington Times Blog, 3/06/11]

Received a 97% Rating from the Club for Growth in 2010 In 2010, Paul Ryan received a 97% rating from the Club for Growth. His lifetime score according to the organization was 90%. [Club for Growth, accessed 5/12/11]
13

Transportation Issues
Ryan does NOT support transportation grants for safety standards
In March of 2011, Ryan introduced a bill that would prohibit any Federal grants to state and local governments for motorcycleonly safety checkpoints. [Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, 3/04/11]

Veterans Issues Womens Issues

14

15