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Subscribe to RSSWisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan (R) made strides toward putting a softer face on his regimen of budgetary reforms in the face of liberal critics, who say it is especially conservative and victimizes the poor.
Ryan delivered his major fiscal policy address at Georgetown University, where he defended his budget roadmap in the context of his own Catholic faith.
"The overarching to threat to our whole society today is the exploding federal debt. The Holy Father himself, Pope Benedict, has charged governments, communities and individuals running up high debt levels are 'living at the expense of future generations and living in untruth.'" Ryan said.
The Ryan budget has weathered criticism from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic lay people for its cuts to social programs, in conflict with the church's social justice teachings. A small group of protesters from the liberal group Catholics United gathered outside the venue for Ryan's speech at Georgetown, which is affiliated with the Catholic Church.
Citing the principle of subsidiarity, Ryan went on to say that smaller, more localized government is better able to serve the needy than federal bureaucrats. At times Ryan seemed to echo Mitt Romney's language on the president's "government-centered society" versus his vision of an "opportunity society."
The speech attracted considerable attention because of Ryan's role as a highly-speculated possible running mate for Romney this November. In a question-and-answer session following the speech, Ryan would not dismiss the possibility of serving as Romney's vice presidential nominee, but said he was "content with my job" and didn't want to deal in "hypotheticals."
Democrats have been eager to make Ryan's budget proposals the last two years, especially should the Wisconsin Republican join the national ticket. They accused Ryan's plan of ending Medicare as most Americans have come to know it, and have gotten a degree of political traction from that attack.
To that end, Ryan's speech Thursday was partly directed toward couching his plan in a post-partisan aura. He made strides toward emphasizing fairness and economic mobility.
"Pro-growth tax reform, by lowering rates for all Americans while closing loopholes that primarily benefit the well off, can eliminate unfairness in the tax code and ensure a level playing field for all," he said.
And at another point, Ryan sought to cast off the shackles of part affiliation. "These principles are not exclusive to one party," he said, referring to the concept of American exceptionalism, which GOP presidential candidates have stressed on the campaign trail this spring.
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How do you soften up Eddie Munster?
Was "Woof Woof" Willard around to tell us all how marvelous this plan is?
What about
Mitch McConnellGrampa Munster?This shmuck will be lucky if he holds his seat in November!
No soft face will erase what Ryan would like to do to our country - he is forwarding the right wing plan to create a more and more privileged over-class.
The Ryan budget would GUT the Department of Education by $115 Billion over ten years. He plans to gut federal Education spending by 45% over ten years.
By limiting access to quality education for all: Ryan MAKES CLEAR the GOP/Koch plan to limit our children's access to quality education - and end their chances for a good future in a competitive global economy.
The Paul Ryan (R-WI) Budget: RAISES student loan rates and CUTS $billions from Pell grants.
Mitt Romney and Republican congressionals voted FOR the Ryan Bill.
This includes Speaker Boehner (R) - and now he wants to have it both ways.
Backhouse, it's unforgivable what the GOP is trying to get away with. Romney included. The pushback has to be relentless.
Romney is on board with this budget and I bet you anything he has no idea what's in it.
I think I smell a little bit of bait and switch going on here.This is his line until opportunity knocks (God forbid). He will be a little softer and throw ten more bucks into that medicare "voucher." That way seniors will be good for an additional alcohol swab.
Daily Kos:
Obamacare Will Provide $1.3 Billion In Rebates To Consumers:
The Affordable Care Act is doing what it was supposed to. You won't hear that from congressional Republicans or Mitt Romney (or, probably the Supreme Court), but the provisions that have already gone into effect are working. That includes people up to age 26 being covered by their parents' plans, free wellness exams for seniors, "doughnut hole" Medicare prescription drug savings, and insurers no longer being able deny coverage to children because of a pre-existing condition.
Here's another one. Beginning in 2011, health insurers were required to spend at least 80 percent of premiums (for small group plan, 85 percent for large groups) on actual medical care, and if they failed to meet that standard they had to pay a rebate of the difference. They'll have to make those rebate payments by August of this year.
The Kaiser Family Foundation just finished a survey of what happened in 2011 [pdf] with that rule, the "medical loss ratio," and found that insurers will be paying $1.3 billion in rebates for 2011 including "$426 million in the individual market, $377 million in the small group market, and $541 million in the large group market." About one-third of consumers in the individual market are going to see rebates, averaging at $127 per person. For the group plans, the purchaser of the plan (employer or other sponsoring group) will get the rebate, and 28 percent of the small group market and 19 percent of the large group market will get the rebates (which will be much smaller per person, about $14).
But what's really interesting about the study is that is suggests that the medical loss ratio rule actually means that insurance is doing what it's supposed to do: provide health care. As Sarah Kliff writes, experts expected that rebates, based on 2010 numbers, would have amounted to at least $2 billion. Which means that $700 million in premiums paid went where the Affordable Care Act said it was supposed to go: into providing health care coverage.
Ryan went on to say that smaller, more localized government is better able to serve the needy than federal bureaucrats.
I have 2 questions: 1) Any idea how the "smaller, more localized government" is going to pay for all this 2) who's going to employ the "federal bureaucrats" who are going to lose their jobs in this plan
Ronney surely must understand that if he takes this viper on board as his VP candidate it is curtains for an already rickety campaign with no answers.
Romney surely believes that the churches will fill all of our retirement needs. HA!
How do you soften ending Medicare as we know it and turning it into a voucher program that won't begin to cover seniors' costs. And how do you soften opposing the Affordable Care Act which is at least a start to providing health care to those who need it? And how to you soften calling for the end of Planned Parenthood, which for many women is their only access to mammograms and other health care? Good luck with that, Rep. Ryan.
Is Ryan campaigning?
Steeler--there is NO "softer face" on the Ryan budget. No matter how he tries to spin it, anyone who is not of the 1% winds up losing! This budget would be a tragedy for the rest of the 99% of us. If it quacks like a duck......Such a good little "christian" Ryan is--along with all of the other tealiban teavangelists. As they often like to say "What would Jesus do?" Certainly not what Ryan plans!
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
If the Ryan plan ever became law, Jesus would be meeting a whole bunch of seniors a heck of a lot sooner. They would all approach the pearly gates with a useless expired voucher in their hand, compliments of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
Its the exact same budget that strips Medicare and Social Security from the seniors .Then takes food stamps from the poor ..These idiots are about to create a revolt against the haves by the have not's ! They are to stupid to see this one coming ! The poor people outnumber the wealthy people !
The GOP knows that poor people and seniors and youth outnumber them, so to get the Ryan plan through, they will make sure that these groups will never vote again.
So, Mr. Ryan, which party racked up that federal debt, huh? It's starts with an "R" like your last name which should make it easy for you.
Jeez, these characters have a lot of chutzpah, they behave as if it wasn't them which says they are delusional if they actually think they are fiscally responsible. The GOP hasn't been "fiscally responsible" since Ronald Reagan became their hero and "deficits don't matter" became their class motto.
Right on the money FEISTY, Then these Republican clowns will be throwing the American People under the bus.
Lets all keep a eye on Karl Roves attempt to take over the state governments. Remember he is the one who ran Bush's Government and our country into the ground.
Willard is stuffing his campaign full of "W" retreads - meet the new boss... same as the old boss...
How about we put something soft on Ryan's face...now, now, now, you were thinking a pillow, but I meant a cream pie!
Feisty, if only it was the same as the old boss (Robert Bork, Kris Kobach, Ted Nugent!) -- conservative means status quo. The new far-Right, even just since their last nominee McCain, want to go backward to a time before women's rights, civil rights, labor rights, etc.
Karl Rove is one of the biggest scum bags in Politics and his buddys aren't far behind
I will always believe the turd-blossom was the mastermind behind dividing this country...
It was the end of civility in politics!
made strides toward putting a softer face on his regimen of budgetary reforms in the face of liberal critics, who say it is especially conservative and victimizes the poor.
Oh PLEASE! Paul Ryan may try to put a nice face to his budget, but it is so wrong, it is so overwhelmingly absurd trying to cover it. He wants EVERYBODY that is poor erased off the planet like trash. He does not care how the disabled, old or veterans survive if they do not bring bu$$ines to him. Pftt! What a despicable fellow!
Another victory for the Democratic Party it appears. This country has gotten so hateful and I am glad (hopeful) to see the pushback from thoughtful Americans is working.
The Republican Party is in big trouble and unless they take their jobs seriously, for once, they're done. Because right now they come across as a party who are willing to throw anybody, except the rich, under the bus.
That's not the government we want.
Pat, you are by evidence of your posts a class-warfare socialist.
Are you going to protest and riot on May Day, May 1, along with the Communists and the Occupy Wall Street loons?
only in virginia Bob,only in Virginia we are all coming eric cantor's for a picnic
This country is totally divided, just what Obama wants. United we stand and divided we fall. Division works for the Democratic Party. I love the liberals still blaming the massive debt on Republicans, even though Obama is on his way to adding more to the National Debt then all previous presidents combined. It really does matter less where the debt crisis started, then where it ends. Right now no one in the Obama administration or the Democratic Party has offered any solutions.
I think we should continue status quo. Let the Democrats demonize the issue of massive debt and uncontrolled spending. Liberals seem to feel it can go on forever and are more then happy to jump on the demonizing wagon. While at the same time offering NOTHING in the way of any solutions. But the fact is this system is going to collapse. It simply cannot remain viable under the ever increasing weight of our nations irresponsible spending habits.
All the people that Obama, the Democrats, the liberals in the media, and bloggers like to use as an example of being hurt from the Ryan budget will be buried when the system collapses. Then what will the excuse be? That Republicans didn't offer a solution we liked? Or will reality of the fact that Obama and the Democrats offered NOTHING be where the fingers point. The day of reckoning is coming, and it will not be the wealthy so often demonized by Obama and Democrats that get hurt. So just who is Obama and the Democrats helping with this obstruction and demonizing?
Rick - Nice try. Republican only began concerning themselves with our dept after Obama was elected, in addition to starting their Obama demonizing campaign, claiming our president was not born here, is a Muslim, a socialist, a communist, a Nazi, and anything else they could think of to paint a picture of the complete collapse of our society; all without any supporting facts to back up their claims (which somehow were never an issue during the election). Now, three years latter, we have the biggest political divide in history...and this was the President's doing?
As far as class-warfare, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the absurdity that while the majority of Americans are suffering through the worse recession since the great depression, the top 1% is making historical profits and wages. Where did all this extra wealth come from during a recession?
Even worse, the rest of us are eating hot dogs, while the top 1% at eating lobster, yet what do they say? “Don’t look at us for help. It’s the poor and elderly that are taking all your money, so ask them for help.”
This is how I see the math.
Middle-class wage 10 year stagnation + Upper-class wages 10 year massive growth = class warfare
The top 20% who earn 93% of all income and pay 53% of Federal taxes + the bottom 80% who Earn 7% of all income and pay 47% of Federal taxes = class warfare
Of course the GOP propaganda machine has been throwing around different tax rates, by omitting everything but income taxes, but for us middle-class Americans there is considerably more taxes than simply income, but let’s be serious here. If the top 20% earned 93% of all income, how is paying 53% fair, when the total should be closer to 93%. In other words, class warfare, plain and simple.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not sure if Democrats or Republicans can fix this problem, regardless of claims, as it seems that everyone in DC has trouble with honesty, but to pretend that there is no problem is simply irresponsible and to blame everything on the poor and elderly is apprehensible. Personally, I feel there are many Republicans that would agree, if they didn’t fear breaking ranks so much, yet I would happily vote for one if they did.
Class warfare... another Repubnut talking point! LOL
The Ryan plan is bad and hopefully Ryan will be voted out in November.
The Ryan plan is bad. See Dick run. See Jane run fast. See Spot run faster away from the dog eating President.
Deep thoughts by Job1.
MAKE NO MISTAKE!
Republicans have succeeeded in scaring off a huge percentage of American voters
RePIGS can wave bye bye to the Catholic vote, 70% of Latino voters, 85% of black voters, 57% of seniors, 60% of the young vote, etc Etc ETC!!!
The GOP and Tea baggers are going down in flames this coming November!
Bravo!!!!
He can quote the Pope out of context, but it's clear from the position of the bishops that the church's position doesn't favor throwing the poor to the wolves for some hope (not certainty) that his budget proposal will significantly improve the economy. And how many times do we have to revisit the flawed ideology of "trickle down" which is the basis of the Republican argument in it's simplest terms?
Failed federal poverty programs are the real "trickle down" ...the Nanny State wants the poor to remain poor , so they subsidize indolence and dependency.
The Great Society programs have been a massive failure for poor people...but a success for liberal bureaucrats and the welfare state itself.
Failed political constituants that make the GOP look dumber than they really are huh Booby
I know this is off topic, but I was wondering if anyone had an opinion on this.
Barack Obama has approved a new policy shift which allows the Central Intelligence Agency and the US military to launch drone attacks in Yemen when the identity of those who could be killed is not known, according to US media reports.
The Washington Post, quoting administration officials, said on Thursday that the US president approved the use of "signature" strikes this month.
It also said that the killing of an alleged al-Qaeda fighter earlier this week near the border to Yemen's Marib province was among the first attacks carried out under the new authority.
The shift in policy is said to mark a significant expansion of the drone war against what the US alleges to be a group affiliated with al-Qaeda which is located in Yemen.
The Wall Street Journal quotes US officials as saying that the amended policy includes targeting fighters whose names are not known but who are deemed to be "high-value terrorism targets, or threats to the US".
I say go for it. By that, I mean, stay on the offensive against our actual enemies. The ones who attacked us. War in any fashion is not pretty. But to me this is completely justified, and warranted. The President is doing what a "real" President does. He's taking the war against Al' Qaeda to them. Seems to be working just fine. I know I personally wouldn't want to be the leader, or even the number 2 or 3 under the leader of Al' Qaeda. They seem to be dropping like flies with this President. I realize the Teapublican approach is to send in 100,000 troops. At least this way. We risk losing a remote controlled plane with a few bombs. Pretty cost effective if you ask me.
do what ya gotta do no soldiers no harm
As far as the Romney/Ryan budget. You can spray perfume on a pile of S*IT. But the pile will eventually still smell like S*IT, when the perfume fades. :-)
"Citing the principle of subsidiarity, Ryan went on to say that smaller, more localized government is better able to serve the needy than federal bureaucrats."
Of course the "poverty pimps" themselves, meaning the federal bureaucrats, their unions and their Nanny State parasites all feed at the public trough, and have no interest in the poor rising up from their poverty.
The liberal vision is for the poor to remain poor forever, helpless dependents getting government checks.... and their attacks on the Ryan budget is truly greedy..greedy failed federal bureaucracy.
That is your Democratic party today, the Party of Government, not the Party of Opportunity and individual freedom.
Tell that crap to the Catholic church who has boycotted him at Georgetown. If left up to Ryan, and the rest of the Right wing fanatics. There will be two classes of people. The "Ultra" rich(Flipp Romney). And the "Ultra" poor(Everyone Else). Its not that the Government wants to have too hand out food stamps. By the way, I'd LOVE to see Ryan, or Romney live on 125 dollars worth of food a month! BUT, because of their very own policies, the United States kind of has an obligation to its own poor first. And then we can feed the poor in Iraq. Which we should also be obligated to do as well. Since Dubya and Dick kinda destroyed what little they had in the first place. Glad to hear BOB, that you're doing so well. Sad to hear you haven't got a Christian bone in any of your party. I suggest Ryan brush up on the ole "Bible" if he plans to speak at Georgetown U. :-)
bob.....wow......I mean wow man, you have'nt a clue.
If your not in the top 1%, then the repuk / ryan budget proposal will guarantee you'll be poor forever. that's why he's been taking the heat from everybody who has a clue.
Also you forget, we have an representative government. It should work for our benefit, not just the top 1%. But, clearly your in the top 1% (sarcastic) or simply your more concerned about the well being of people that are out of your tax bracket.
Most of our parents and grandparents sacrificed and told us an education is the most likely way out of poverty. Today, most Americans have our parents, grandparents, and teachers to thank.
Businesses are saying they would hire more Americans, but there are not enough educated individuals to fill the positions.
Romney and the Republicans who have proposed ending the Department of education.
It's time Romney and the Republicans stop disagreeing with American businesses. Education is our path to a stronger America. Harming education is our path to becoming a third world country where only the wealthy control everything.
Debbie, you need to be educated form your liberal talking points, please pay attention.
The Federal Department of Education has never educated anyone. It is a federal bureacracy that stifles creativity and coddles failure a.
State and local government has traditionally run our education system, and did a great job.
Since the Dept of Education was established, the educational system in the US has been a failure.
The Holy Father himself, teaches us it's wrong to worship the wealthy.
He teaches us it's wrong for wealthy to pay a lower tax rate than those earning less money.
Unfortunately, Ryan and Romney have said Americans should "praise the wealthy".
The question is; will the leadership of that church, for once, be consistent and refuse communion to politicians who support policies that starve the poor?
Or will they prove that they are "anti-life"?
Brava Debbie and NDDR! Let the leadership of the church put its money where its mouth is....and there is certainly LOTS of money in the church!
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
Thanks, nurse. We will have to watch and see if the church does just that.
Newday-Great questions!
Its the exact same budget that strips Medicare and Social Security from the seniors .Then takes food stamps from the poor ..These idiots are about to create a revolt against the haves by the have not's ! They are to stupid to see this one coming !The poor people outnumber the wealthy people !
Remember Rubio's words in his C-span speech. He talks of a "One World Order". This stuff is far beyond just Teapublican domestic policy. And Flipp Romney and the rest of the Hee Haw gang can't wait to rule the world. So what, if a few 100,000 Americans have to starve for them to accomplish that. :-)
Hey Ryan. Guess what? The world does not care what the Catholic Church thinks. First it's 's child molesting, then contraception and now in vitro fertilization. Let's solve the tax code and eliminate all deductions for the Catholic Church and let them bus their own darn kids.
Whatever happened to negotiation instead of name calling and finger pointing? Are we that polarized? Paul Ryan understands the system in its present state will fail. So does Bill Clinton who commended Paul Ryan for taking the initiative. We can't continue to increase the deficit and destroy the value of our dollar. I didn't see any one else come forward with a plan. And that's fine. So let's take this one, digest it, and come up with some alternatives that might have not so onerous points. Use this as a starting point and augment. That's how negotiation and progress really work, folks.
I didn't see any one else come forward with a plan.
I did. A 4 trillion dollar plan by the POTUS. Which John Boner even said "i got 98% of what we wanted" the next day...thanks to NOT getting 100%. The Teapublican party that runs him, forced him to walk away. My how short some people's memories actually are.
WELL, now that Ryan has FINALLY "softened" his budget stance, we can take IT and the SENATE BUDGET and create some COMPROMISE.
"what's that...?" Senate hasn't CREATED a budget draft in over 3 years? OH...well forget that....
WELL, NOW that Ryan has finally "softened" his budget stance, we can take IT and the SENATE APPROVED OBAMA 2013 budget and create some COMPROMISE.
"what's that...?" Senate REFUSES to allow a VOTE on Obama's 2013 budget?" OH...uh...
Well, we can use the Obama 2012 budget. It's ESSENTIALLY the same thing....
"what's that...?" Senate voted DOWN Obama's 2012 budget 97 votes to ZERO?
WOW, FUNNY...hard to imagine why THAT doesn't matter to some, huh?
All I can say Boner. WHERES THE JOBS! Thats the bumper sticker that got you the speaker's job. Unfortunately, just like Flipp Romney, you're mearly a token, controlled by a handfull of political terrorists. Holding the entire nation, and damn nearly the world, hostage. Cause they don't even have a clue that WE THE United States Of America, actually pay our bills. Its like these morons never opened a Government book in high school. Then again, maybe they grew up after "No child left behind" rolled out. And it wasn't included on their monthly tests. So clueless.
YOU MORON...Here's the HISTORY of No CHILD LEFT BEHIND. it's idiots like you that don't have a clue about history that run your mouth, avoid facts...LOOK at the VOTE COUNT. LOOK at the co-sponsors...Good job proving what intellect the typical Liberal voter has. BUT, I bet it made you "feel good." that's all that matters...dummy
The legislation was proposed by President George W. Bush on January 23, 2001. It was coauthored by Representatives John Boehner (R-OH), George Miller (D-CA), and Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Judd Gregg (R-NH). The United States House of Representatives passed the bill on May 23, 2001 (voting 384–45),[7] and the United States Senate passed it on June 14, 2001 (voting 91–8).[8] President Bush signed it into law on January 8, 2002.
Sorry, NCLB will forever be known as Bush's folly.
newday,
Sorry, it's unfortunate Libs and Democrats create revisionist HISTORY. As factually, the Bill clearly was supported across the board by both parties.
Works the same, that "revisionist" history thing with Democrats. A few examples:
A: Freddie and Fannie and Clinton
B: Democrats in CONTROL of Congress under Bush when things went "bad." Somehow Libs have a really bad memory about how they blocked things.
C: Republicans in CONROL of Congress under Clinton when things were "good."
D: Senate's FAILURE to DO anything NOW under Democrat "control."
E: Lincoln is a Republican, R. Byrd was a Democrat.
Libs are really good at LYING and distortion of facts. Funny, and unfortunate.
Sorry Paul , I am not Catholic and do NOT Give a good GD what the pope has to say .
Paul Ryan soon to be a star on Jersey Shore as Pauly Rainman
For GOD sake whom are this peolpe fooling? this is 2012 Ryan or what ever ur name is, i don,t have problem if you want to cut every thing cut able, but for you to be foolling yourself by giving more money to defenced and given more tax cut to billions and millions, while you are cutting from the poor, that make me sick.the rich cant pay for poor, but Ryan want the poor to pay for rich, this is madness.
You treasonous liberal trash are right, let's go with obamas plan. Oh, that's right, he doesn't have one. His plan is just to destroy America by whatever means he can.
Micheal,
Actually Obama does have a "plan." It's sitting with Harry Reid, Senate Majority Democratic Lead. He refuses to allow a VOTE, or floor discussion on it.
It's the Senate, controlled by Democrats that don't have a plan.
Either way, you are right, it IS the Democrats attempting to destoy the American Republic in favor of Obama's Socialized EVERYTHING.
Oh I see how this works, now that there is a possibility of him becoming Vice-President he wants to get rid of the "6 trillion dollar debt reduction all on entitlements without raising taxes" image. I see now, he is banking on all of us forgeting the fact that we are trying to shake 2 wars that cost +2 trillion all the time having the Bush tax cuts that created 4 trillion in lost revenue. So simple Independent me from Oklahoma does not forget the entitlements are costing this country arguement crap he threw out at us 6 months ago. He can take such fake fiscal management and stick up his ass.
Are Republicons just that friggen stupid?
Racism is a terrible hing to waste!
How do you spell just plain stupid. Spell it with me my GOP class. J--------------------Oh you know the rest I think.
Funny, YOU are asking us how to "SPELL." Look at your posts, No. 21...
Find a mirror...Look in it...you've found the definition of STOOPID...
I can't always type right but I think left perfectly.
Article should be titled "Ryan puts lipstick on the pig".
Ryan quote the Pope about debt, when it is HIS PARTY that ran it up? How much of the bush debt did he vote FOR??? His budget violating his own religion's precepts on helping the need by making substantial cuts in programs for the sick, the elderly and the poor. In addition, it privatizes Medicare, presenting the BRILLIANT plan to put all of the medicare money into the hands of the very people who crashed the economy!!
The Catholic bishops were right--- it's an immoral budget whose real goal is to make the rich even richer and the needy far more needy! What shocks me is that the 99% who are Republicans actually support this evil budget. You're voting against your own interests!!