Rep. Paul Ryan to deliver SOTU response

Chairman of the House Budget Committee Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will deliver the Republican response to the State of the Union Tuesday, according to Mike Allen of Politico. Ryan proposed a roadmap to budget reform in March that includes massive tax cuts, giving vouchers for private insurance in lieu of Medicare and Medicaid, ending the employer tax deduction for health care and partially privatizing social security.

Not surprisingly, Ryan will likely talk about the budget. As the Republican statement read, “Known for his thoughtful and detailed critiques of big-government policies, Ryan has helped put to rest the Democrats’ argument that more government spending and higher taxes is the answer to most of our nation’s ills.”

Ryan is different than the last picks for a big national stage — the GOP picked telegenic rising-star governors Bobby Jindal of Louisiana (who was roundly mocked for his condescending delivery) and Bob McDonnell of Virginia in the last two years. The GOP could have picked another non-white governor like Susana Martinez or Nikki Haley, or another rising star like Sen. Marco Rubio.

But given the focus on the budget, the GOP announcing specific spending cuts, and an upcoming debate over raising the debt limit, Ryan is their choice.