Paul Ryan

Paul D. Ryan, Jr. has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the First Congressional District of Wisconsin, since 1999.

Iraq War
Ryan voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that provided Congressional authorization for the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Issues
Ryan refused to respond to citizens on issues through the National Political Awareness Test (NPAT).

Abortion
Ryan has consistently supported the National Right to Life Committee, while not supporting Planned Parenthood or NARAL Pro-Choice America , displaying a strong stance against abortion. He voted for a bill that would require women seeking abortions after 20 weeks to be informed of the possible pain their fetus would undergo in the case of an abortion (12/06/2006).

Education
Ryan voted twice in support of the No Child Left Behind Act. He believes that "we must continue to make fiscally responsible reforms while improving student achievement" He voted against a bill which proposed to lower interest rates on student loans for college students, but for a bill that proposed fuller disclosure of the costs of college.

Gun Control
Ryan has no official statement on his website about gun issues |11. He voted against a bill that proposed to extend the time for background checks for those attempting to purchase guns. |12 He voted for an amendment that prohibited funds in the bill from being used to enforce a law requiring guns to be sold with trigger locks. |13 He voted yes to a bill that prohibited lawsuits against gun manufacturers for for harm caused by criminal or unlawful misuse |14.

Immigration
Ryan supports tighter border security, and voted for the Secure Fence Act |8. He wants to document the illegal immigrants currently in the U.S., and "find a way to bring these immigrants out from the underground while maintaining the rule of law." |9. However, he also supports increased numbers of seasonal labor visas for workers. |10

Social Security
Ryan voted for the Social Security Protection Act of 2003 |11, designed to help the Social Security Administration's ability to protect it's program. He is working for reform, in particular limiting the ability of other branches of government to appropriate Social Security surplus funds, because the surplus will disappear as the Baby Boomers age. |12

In 2004, he introduced a reform bill |13 that would allow workers to shift a large portion of their Social Security payroll tax to financial index funds managed by private investment firms. Individuals exercising the private investment option would still receive SS benefits based only on the past amount they already paid into the traditional system. Critics argue that Ryan's plan would eventually defund traditional SS by discouraging participation at the expense of added risk for the promise of greater returns. Thereby circumventing the primary purpose and original intent of Social Security.

Background
Ryan was born January 29, 1970 in Janesville, Wisconsin. He graduated from Joseph A. Craig High School and later he attended Miami University in Ohio before entering the family business in Janesville, Wisconsin.

Ryan worked as an aide to U.S. Senator Bob Kasten in 1992 and as legislative director for Sam Brownback of Kansas from 1995 to 1997. He served as a speech writer at Empower America to Jack Kemp and William Bennett.

Congressional Career
He was first elected to the House in 1998 at the age of 28 running as a conservative in a heavily Democratic congressional district, when he defeated highly-profiled Lydia Spottswood 57%–42% to inherit the seat left by Mark Neumann.

He defeated perennial candidate Jeff Thomas in 2000, 2002 and 2004 by margins of 65%–34%, 67%–31% and 60%–38%. He was re-elected in 2008 by defeating Marge Krupp 64% to 36% of the vote.

2006 congressional elections
Ryan defeated Democrat Jeffrey Thomas to retain his seat.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Social Security
 * Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures
 * House Committee on Budget - Ranking Member

Committee assignments in the 110th Congress (2005-2006)

 * [[House Committee on Budget]-- Ranking Member
 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Social Security
 * Joint Economic Committee

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Member, Ducks Unlimited
 * Member, Janesville Bowmen, Incorporated
 * Board of Directors, Rock County Junior Achievement
 * Member, Saint Mary's Parish

More Background Data

 * Critique of Ryan at ThrowTheRascalsOut.org

2008 Campaign Contact Information
Official Ryan for Congress website

Ryan for Congress P.O. Box 1919 Janesville, WI 53547

[mailto:paul@ryanforcongress.com paul@ryanforcongress.com]

External resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * The Xoff Files