Paul Ryan to Deliver GOP State of the Union Reponse
Updated at 3:15 p.m. ET
Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin will deliver the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union address next week, congressional Republicans announced Friday. The choice of Ryan indicates the party's interest in convincing Americans they are committed to fiscal responsibility.
The 39-year-old, seven-term congressman has won robust praise from other conservatives for his deficit reduction proposals - though his "Roadmap" to reduce the deficit received a cool reception from some Republicans concerned about blowback from deep cuts to popular programs.
Now that Republicans have taken over the House, Ryan is serving as chairman of the House Budget Committee. A statement from House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell today said that Ryan would deliver his response from the House Budget Committee hearing room, "where the Democrats' spending spree will end and the Republicans' push for a fiscally responsible budget that cuts spending will begin."
"Paul Ryan has spent the better part of the last two years explaining exactly why the Democrat agenda has been so bad for jobs and the economy, and why we need to ditch the government-driven approach in favor of creative, common-sense solutions that put the American people back in charge," McConnell said. "Chairman Ryan's unique understanding of the fiscal problems we face, his command of policy, and his adherence to the principles of our nation's founding make him an excellent spokesman for the path that Americans want Washington to take."
Added Boehner, "We're broke, and decisive action is needed to help our economy get back to creating jobs and end the spending binge in Washington that threatens our children's future."
Ryan said he is grateful for the "unique opportunity" to respond to the president, and he said he is hopeful Mr. Obama "will work with the new House Majority to cut spending, reform government, and restore the foundations for growth and job creation."
Mr. Obama is slated to deliver his State of the Union before a joint session of Congress on Jan. 25. Last year, newly-elected Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell delivered the Republican response.
Update: Rep. Michele Bachmann, chairman of the House Tea Party Caucus, will deliver her own response to Mr. Obama's State of the Union address, the Tea Party Express announced today. Her response will be broadcast on the group's website.
