Democratic challengers question Ryan's proposals
JANESVILLE — Two of four Democrats seeking to unseat Rep. Paul Ryan from his seat in the House of Representatives have been active and vocal in recent weeks of their criticism of the five-term incumbent.
At least four Democrats have said they are running against Ryan, a Republican from Janesville, and the general election is five months away.
But Paulette Garin of Kenosha and Marge Krupp of Pleasant Prairie have been out front in taking shots at Ryan.
Two other Democratic candidates for the 1st District Congressional seat—Jeff Thomas of Janesville and Mike Hebert of Kenosha—spoke at a meeting of Walworth County Democrats in February.
As of Monday, the only candidates officially registered with the elections division of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board were Ryan and Hebert. Candidates have until July 8 to register.
Ryan recently made a media splash with his “Roadmap for America’s Future”: plans and legislation to reform taxes, accessibility to health insurance, Social Security and Medicare.
Garin issued a point-by-point response:
-- Health insurance: Ryan continues to push his health savings account plan.
“His proposal segregates the high-risk, chronically ill and those with pre-existing conditions to be subsidized by the individual states. So the burden of cost shifts, but is not diminished.”
-- Medicare: Garin thinks Ryan’s plan is another attempt to privatize Medicare. “It appears to be another plan where the insurance industry will get to ‘cherry pick’ amongst the healthiest. His proposal limits your choice of insurance providers to a pre-determined list.”
-- Social Security: Garin again thinks it’s another move toward privatization.
-- Taxes: Ryan’s plan would basically create a two-tier flat tax system. Garin questions how the revenue shortfall created by a flat tax would be made up.
“We already have a staggering deficit, driven by defense spending, and that does not even include the cost of the Iraq War,” she said. “It’s just the same old GOP strategy to demonize taxes and attract voters when in reality the plan will most likely only benefit the wealthiest amongst us.”
Krupp also ripped Ryan’s roadmap.
His Social Security proposal calls for privatization of Social Security that some say could lead to the program’s destabilization, she said.
Ryan’s plan to allow Americans to buy healthcare plans that they choose “is the same kind of proposition that the Bush administration has been giving the American people the past eight years,” Krupp said. “Why is Paul Ryan trying to punish our working families and seniors?”
Krupp and Garin also charged that Ryan’s proposals are influenced by the campaign donations he receives from insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
Krupp blasted Ryan for voting against the “New G.I. Bill,” which proposed a tax increase for those making more than $500,000 a year to pay for a college education program for veterans returning from post-9/11 conflicts.
“Ryan's dogged and dangerous pursuit of tax cutting, despite his voting for the (Iraq) war, almost put the dreams of college for millions of returning veterans out of reach,” she said.
Jun 7, 2008 at 6:29 p.m.
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Ryan is OUT this year. Their are others who will actually perform the job with good judgement. He has none of his own. His Decision in voting have been the Bush Doctrine. 94 percent of the time. Now I ask you is your life better or worst since Paul Ryan has been your Representative.? The answer for me is easy. WORST. When they where deciding if with the Stimulus package they should extend unemployement benifits, Ryan and his gang said no. Reason>>>> these lazy people won't go look for jobs. Well Ryan thinks the people that loose their jobs are lazy. But I wonder how much of a cut he gets from OUT SOURCING the jobs they lost. This man protected Foley the child predator his buddy. I have asked him many questions about his decision on his votes and registered my objections to most of them. I received a form letter. This man is not interested in his constiuents ideas, he could care less about the people he represents , just like Bush. He has no consicience. he follows the lead of the King George. It time for him to go. Anyone else will do. How does he expect people to put money in saving accounts for health care when they can't afford to put gas in their cars. When they loose their jobs and then loose their homes. Ryan lives in his own dream world. He wouldn't know REALITY if it hit him in the face. A vote for Ryan is a vote for two classes, The Rich and the Poor. Poverty is his goal, cause with improverist people you have control.
Jun 4, 2008 at 7:34 a.m.
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I know the Dems in this article are going to have their own proposals on how to fix Medicare and Social Security. That'll be in tomorrow's paper. Right?
Jun 4, 2008 at 7:02 a.m.
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Just imagine what drilling for oil in our own country 15 years ago and building new refineries would have done for our economy. Just imagine if the intelligence was right with Saddam and he did have WMD's. Would you still be whinnying?
Jun 4, 2008 at 2:56 a.m.
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toasty2k, we don't need to bash. We just need to mention the utterly failed policies of the current administration and even the most ardent Republican slinks away in utter embarrassment.
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Imagine what $525 billion could have done for this economy. Now, what was it we spent that on? I can't remember.
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costof...
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But distract if you wish. I suppose it's the only strategy that's going to work in November.
Jun 4, 2008 at 12:03 a.m.
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OK; all you big progressive lunatics, who think Ryan is finished in this big democratic landslide in November, now's your time to put your $$ where your mouth is.
I'll give you 2/1 odds on whoever your side puts up against Ryan. I'll take anything up to $10,000 in action. My e-mail box is always open.
Jun 3, 2008 at 11:33 p.m.
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I am still waiting to hear ideas from those Democrats. Chirp, chirp, chirp. Just what I thought, no ideas. Just nothing more than spineless bashing.
Jun 3, 2008 at 6:17 p.m.
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Ryan will get re-elected even in this Democrat-friendly year. He's not much of a social conservative, and seems likeable and reasonable, something that doesn't come well to most Republicans even in Wisconsin.
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I just hope that the Democratic party is able to nominate someone other than Jeff Thomas! What an embarrassment he has been. It may be a quixotic run, but at least we could have a real candidate.
Jun 3, 2008 at 4:26 p.m.
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It seems none of these candidates have any ideas of their own. Just bash Ryan with no ideas of their own. He's taking on the tough issues that nobody wants to face. Social security is going to go broke down the road it seems these candidates don't want to face the facts just want to play the blame game. Look what happened to GM and oil prices. We allowed this to happen people are buying more cars and trucks all over the world but, yet we refuse to drill for our own oil and build refiners. Now we lose GM in Janesville and Doyle and the democrats point the finger at the corporations when government is part of the problem.
Jun 3, 2008 at 3:36 p.m.
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TCB: Try TALKING to Paulette or Marge and then make sure you have a chair handy to sit down. Their policy positions, ideas and ENERGY will certainly shock you and you won't want to fall over when you learn there's more in life than Ryan's inability to represent his constituency with anything more than a "nice guy" facade.
Jun 3, 2008 at 11:12 a.m.
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"Paulette Garin of Kenosha and Marge Krupp of Pleasant Prairie have been out front in taking shots at Ryan."
Offering ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in terms of their own policy advancements. Being a critic is really really easy. Offering solutions that can could pass legislatively is another thing altogether.
Republican Paul Ryan, who lives in a heavily democratic populated district, will be re-elected with ease.
Jun 3, 2008 at 10:42 a.m.
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Ryan's vote against the new GI bill indicates he still is a George Bush "yes man."
It truly is time for change.
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