Congressman Paul Ryan's "Roadmap for America's Future"

Paul Ryan (WI-1) is the GOP's rising young star. I wouldn't be shocked to see him run for the US Senate when Kohl retires or for president at some time in the future.

His Roadmap for America's Future was released yesterday: http://www.americanroadmap.org/

Summary:
” The four major components of the plan, outlined in today’s Wall Street Journal, include:

Health Insurance. The bill provides universal access to affordable health insurance, by shifting the ownership of health coverage from the government and employers to individuals. It provides a refundable tax credit – $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families – to purchase coverage.

Medicaid and Medicare. The bill modernizes Medicaid by giving states maximum flexibility to tailor their Medicaid programs to the specific needs of their populations. It also allows Medicaid recipients to avail themselves of the health-coverage options open to everyone else through the tax-credit option.

Social Security. Workers under 55 will have the option of investing over one-third of their current Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts. These personal accounts are likely to grow faster than the traditional benefit. They are also the property of the individual, and are thus fully inheritable. The bill includes a guarantee that no one’s total Social Security benefits from the personal accounts will be less than if he had chosen to say in the current system.

Tax Reform. The bill first of all offers individuals a choice of how to pay their taxes – either through the existing law, or through a simplified code with a tax return that fits on a postcard … The rates in the simplified code are 10% on income up to $100,000 for joint filers ($50,000 for single filers); and 25% on taxable income above these amounts. … On the business side, the bill gets rid of our uncompetitive corporate tax – currently the second highest in the industrialized world – and replaces it with a business consumption tax of 8.5%, which is half the average industrialized world rate.

While not necessarily embracing every item in his package, this is a serious reform proposal to address the surging middle-class entitlements that threaten our children’s economic future. Congressman Ryan has offered a long-term solution that avoids tax increases. The Heritage Foundation has offered proposals along similar lines. We challenge those who disagree with his approach to offer their own long-term solution.

http://blog.heritage.org/2008/05/21/hopefully-not-a-road-less-traveled/


Paul Ryan's OpED in the Wall Street Journal:
http://www.house.gov/ryan/speeches_and_editorials/2008speechesandeditorials/52108WSJoped.htm


It would be great to have him defeated this year by one of the progressive Democratic candidates who are running against him.

Paulette Garin http://paulettegarin.com/

Marge Krupp http://kruppforcongress.com/

That'll buy at least 2 month's worth. And for people on Medicaid (i.e. not folks with lots of disposable income), a "tax credit" is going to end up paying for food, clothing, shelter, and car repairs, not insurance.

Personal retirement account? What the stock market? How can the government guarantee this kind of account?

"surging middle class entitlements?" What about surging corporate welfare, I mean, entitlements?

Frickin' GOPers are all the same.

that are bankrupting our children's future and not the trillions spent on the disastrous occupation of Iraq- which Ryan never fails to vote in favor of.

Privatize everything, that's the only answer they have. Reduce corporate taxes.

The Dems in CD1 call him 'little Bush'.

:think: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :puke:

The next time some idiot Republican claims that private investment accounts do better than Social Security, just say the following:

"Really? What fund should I choose? You see, I'm looking for a mutual fund that will guarantee me that it will never lose the value of the invested principal. And I'd like a mutual fund that will guarantee me cash payments that are adjusted for inflation for the duration of my retirement years regardless of any fluctuations in the market. And I'd like a mutual fund that will guarantee me disability benefits should I need them, regardless of the amount that I have invested and will guarantee benefits for my widow and young children, regardless of the amount that I have invested. And I'd like a fund that does all that, but only spends 1% of the money that I invested on overhead. What's the name of that mutual fund? Because I'd really like to invest in it."

Be prepared for a lot of dumb looks...

Paulette Garin - Press Release - May 21, 2008

Yesterday, I was contacted by the press to comment on Paul Ryan's "Roadmap for America's Future" which he is unveiling today at a Washington news conference. Here are some of the comments I made to the press.

Healthcare: Basically, Ryan is still promoting 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. You may derive some benefit from this plan provided nothing serious ever happens to you. It does not appear that his plan does anything to reign in the disproportionate influence of the insurance industry. Why would it? Take a look at his list of campaign PAC donors - BIG Pharma and the insurance industry.

Medicare: On the surface, this appears to be a "privatization" of Medicare, which we are already experiencing with Medicare Advantage. 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. You really are not free to choose. Better check out which companies are on that list, what relationships they have with our congressman, and who really stands to benefit.

Social Security: Another move toward "privatization." If this is the same type of plan that he has been advocating for years, you would be limited in your choices as to where you could invest your personal retirement funds. Once again, who stands to benefit - the investment managers on Wall Street? What relationship do they have with our congressman? Better check out his PAC contributions and personal assets. Always be suspicious of "privatization" until you carefully examine what constraints are put upon the program and who will actually gain.

Taxes: Ryan is pushing a "Taxpayer's Choice Act," which would basically create a two-tier flat tax system. The highest tax rate would be 25% as compared to the current 35%. While paying lower taxes appears attractive, how does the government make-up for the $840 billion revenue shortfall created by this proposal? We already have a staggering deficit, driven by defense spending, AND that does not even include the cost of the Iraq War. We have placed enough of an overwhelming financial burden on our children and grandchildren.

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. If Ryan were truly a fiscal conservative, what has he done to balance the budget, to eliminate the government's 'no bid' contracts, and to end expensive sub-contracting to private companies? Better check out his PAC donors once again.

Ryan claims government is wasteful and inefficient, yet he continues to promote layers of bureaucracy that would now get intermingled with private enterprise. My overall impression of Rep. Ryan's plan is that it is just more GOP spin to complicate matters and mislead people into actually believing that he is working for his constituents and not for the special interest groups who are funding him.

Paulette Garin for Congress

http://www.opensecrets.org/races/indus.php?cycle=2008&id=WI01

Paulette Garin and Marge Krupp. There's a third guy, but I don't think he's taking the campaign terribly seriously.

Anyway, I'm not taking sides in the primary, but I really (REALLY) encourage DU'ers in Wisconsin to donate to whichever candidate gets the nomination. I don't live in the 1st CD (I'm stuck with Sensenbrenner, who is running unopposed again) so my campaign contributions are going to whomever is willing to oppose Ryan. Given the circumstances, this race could be closer than many people think.

And if McCain picks Ryan as his running mate, we might easily win this seat.

Besides Paulette and Marge there are Dr. Jeff Thomas and Mike Hebert- both have run before. They don't raise money or put up websites.

http://news.racinepost.com/2008/04/democrats-dilemma-picking-candidate.html

The women are both very good candidates, but without the kind of money needed for the media buys it takes to reach the whole district. I've heard that there are 3 different media markets in the first, so that makes it tough.

There will be a coordinated campaign for distributing literature for the Federal candidates- presidential and congressional- after the primary.

If you live anywhere near the 1st and your representative is safe or hopeless this is the campaign that will benefit the most from grassroots support!


Ryan, an old man's heartbeat away from the presidency... :scared:

to our Elmbrook Democrats cook-out on June 21st -- I'll post more details in a week or so. I met Paulette at the Founders Day event and I was very impressed with her.

just like the rest of the republicans.

Krupp For Congress Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2008

For More Information:
Communications Director
Krupp For Congress
262-909-9279
info@kruppforcongress.org

Krupp: Paul Ryan Comes Up Short For Veterans

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wisconsin -- For millions of Americans Memorial Day is a time to pay respects to those who gave of themselves to the safety and service of the United States. However, Marge Krupp, the Democratic Candidate for Wisconsin's First Congressional District, is quick to remind district voters of her opponent's recent opposition to the needs of those veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. "Paul Ryan's concern for tax cuts for wealthiest in society over the needs of veterans is appalling," says Krupp. Ryan recently voted against the "New G.I. Bill" (H.R. 2642), which proposed a tax increase for those making over $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 war, almost put the dreams of college for millions of returning veterans out of reach," Krupp proclaimed. The "New G.I. Bill" was proposed out of a need for essential education dollars for veterans in the face of serious cuts to college financial aid. Krupp added, "I believe that putting on a uniform for our nation comes with risks and benefits, but the promise of a college education for those who do should never be taken away."

Marge Krupp noted that despite her staunch opposition to the War in Iraq, she believes that our brave servicemen and women should have the very best our nation has to offer upon their return home.

Marge Krupp is a highly qualified Democratic candidate for Congress who will fight to end the war in Iraq, strongly support working families and work hard to ensure quality, affordable healthcare for every American. For more information, please visit her web site at www.KruppforCongress.com

John Nichols: Paul Ryan's 'Lord of the Flies' agenda
John Nichols — 5/25/2008 7:11 am

Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan is getting lots of attention for his sweeping proposal to "reform" the federal government. Unfortunately, the Janesville Republican fails to recognize the difference between reforming institutions and wrecking them.

Ryan's "Road Map for America's Future" is really a proposal that -- if implemented -- would drive this country off the cliff into a "Lord of the Flies" future where pursuit of the common good -- which Americans have been so successful in advancing when they have worked together under the leadership of Democratic presidents such as Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy and Republicans such as Dwight Eisenhower and Gerald Ford -- is sacrificed in a grab-all-you-can-for-yourself race to the bottom.

Of course, Ryan does not expect his program to be implemented in its entirety.

He is smart enough to know that this would turn Americans against his Republican Party with a fervor not seen since the days when voters ran Herbert Hoover out of the White House.

Ryan's game is a more cynical one. He wants to promote privatization schemes that maintain bulky government bureaucracies while steering hundreds of billions of federal dollars into the accounts of financial, insurance and health care corporations that will kick back some of the money in the form of campaign contributions.

Ryan's purpose is to make the rich dramatically richer -- by cutting their taxes and making it easier for them to opt out of universal programs -- while making it easier for for-profit companies to pocket federal money that is allocated to maintain Medicare, Social Security and other safety net programs.

The congressman may use more market-friendly terms to describe his "reforms." But Ryan's plan is really just a warmed-over package of Washington "think tank" schemes for privatizing programs, cutting taxes for the rich, and undermining protections for the vast majority of Americans.

As one of Ryan's challengers this year, Democrat Paulette Garin, says of Ryan's road map: "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."

Garin's right. Ryan's not proposing reforms. And he is certainly not suggesting anything that could, by even the widest stretch, be defined as "fiscally conservative."

The ambitious congressman is attacking government with the purpose of advancing his own political prospects -- both as a rising Republican leader in Congress and as a potential running mate for presumptive presidential nominee John McCain.

The sad thing about Ryan's proposal is that this able young legislator could have advanced smart proposals that hold the line on taxes for the great majority of Americans while preserving the safety net and encouraging innovation. Instead, he's peddling a redistribute-the-wealth-upward plan to make it easier for the big guys to push the rest of us around.

http://www.madison.com/tct/column/288084

Same regurgitated talking points shit. Paul needs to come up with some ideas of his own. Not that would be any better.

Yeah, I know, its an oxymoron. He doesn't really want to solve problems, just establish himself as a dyed in the wool bearer of conservative values.

"They represent our last line of defense against the onslaught of liberalism."

See http://conservativesuperiority.com/

Paul Ryan is a scumbag of the lowest(or highest depending on how you look at it) order.