Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 1st district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Neumann |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Janna Ryan |
| Children | Liza Ryan Charlie Ryan Sam Ryan |
| Residence | Janesville, Wisconsin |
| Alma mater | Miami University |
| Occupation | marketing consultant, political assistant |
Paul D. Ryan, Jr. (born January 29, 1970) is a conservative American politician and Congressman from Wisconsin. He is a member of the Republican Party, and represents Wisconsin's 1st congressional district (map) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Personal life
Ryan, born and raised in Janesville, Wisconsin, is a fifth-generation Wisconsin native currently serving his sixth term in Congress.
Ryan is a graduate of Joseph A. Craig High School in Janesville and earned a degree in economics and political science from Miami University in Ohio where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He has worked in the private sector as an economic analyst and previously served as president of his own consulting firm.
Ryan and his wife Janna live in Janesville, Wisconsin with their children, Liza, Charlie and Sam.
Political career
Ryan worked as an aide to U.S. Senator Bob Kasten beginning in 1992 and as legislative director for Sam Brownback of Kansas from 1995 to 1997. He worked as a speechwriter to "drug czar" William Bennett and to Jack Kemp during his run for the vice presidency.
He was first elected to the House in 1998 after two-term incumbent Mark Neumann made an unsuccessful bid for the Senate. Ryan defeated 29-year-old pianist Michael J. Logan of Twin Lakes, WI in the Republican primary and Democrat Lydia Spottswood in the general election by a 57-42 margin.[citation needed]
He defeated Jeffrey C. Thomas in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006. In the general election on November 4, 2008, Ryan defeated Marge Krupp, the Democratic candidate
Legislation
On May 21, 2008 Ryan introduced H.R. 6110, titled "Roadmap for America's Future Act of 2008".[1] This proposed legislation outlined a plan to deal with entitlement issues. Its stated objectives were to ensure universal access to health insurance; strengthen Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security; lift the debt from future generations; and promote economic growth and job creation in America.[2] The act would have abolished the State Children's Health Insurance Program in 2010.[3] The act did not move past committee.[4]
On April 1, 2009, Paul Ryan introduced the GOP Alternative to the 2010 United States federal budget. This proposed alternative would eliminate the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, cut the top tax-rate down to 25%, and impose a 5-year spending freeze on all discretionary spending.[5] It would also replace the current Medicare system, where the federal government pays medical providers direclty for services rendered.[6] Instead, starting in 2021, the federal government would pay part of the cost of private medical insurance for individuals turning 65.[6] Ryan's proposed budget would also allow taxpayers to opt out of the current federal income taxation system with itemized deductions, and instead just pay a flat ten percent of adjusted gross income up to $100,000 and 25 percent on any remaining income.[7] Ryan's proposed budget was heavily criticized for the lack of concrete numbers[8] and the proposed privatization of Medicare.[citation needed] It was ultimately rejected in the house by a vote of 293-137, with 38 Republicans in opposition.[9]
In a interview on CBS [2] Ryan stated "I will have a moment of bipartisan agreement. We should have fixed this under our watch and I’m frustrated we didn’t."
Committee assignments
- Committee on the Budget (Ranking Republican member)
- Committee on Ways and Means
Electoral history
- 2008 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
- Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 64%
- Marge Krupp (D), 35%
- Joseph Kexel (L), 1%
- 2006 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
- Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 160,033 votes, 63%
- Jeffrey Thomas (D), 95,303 votes, 37%
- 2004 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
- Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 65%
- Jeffrey Thomas (D), 33%
- 2002 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
- Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 67%
- Jeffrey Thomas (D), 31%
- 2000 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
- Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 67%
- Jeffrey Thomas (D), 33%
- 1998 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
- Paul Ryan (R), 57%
- Lydia Spottswood (D), 43%
References
- ^ H.R. 6110: Roadmap for America's Future Act of 2008. United States Congress. Government Printing Office.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Summary of H.R. 6110: Roadmap for America's Future Act of 2008". Congressional Research Service. Library of Congress.
- ^ "All Congressional Actions of H.R. 6110: Roadmap for America's Future Act of 2008". Library of Congress.
- ^ "The GOP's Alternative Budget". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ a b Espo, David (April 19, 2009). "Republicans still struggling in Congress". The Guardian.
- ^ Hulse, Carl } (April 1, 2009). "Pushed to Act, House G.O.P. Pitches a Budget". The New York TImes.
- ^ Pershing, Ben (April 5, 2009). "GOP May Be Stuck on Cohesion". The Washington Post.
- ^ "38 Republicans Vote Against GOP's Alternative Budget". Newsmax.
External links
- Congressman Paul Ryan U.S. House website
- Paul Ryan for U.S. Congress campaign site