Minnesotans in Congress on Ryan budget plan

Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin introduced the Republican budget proposal on Tuesday, a budget that would spend $6.2 trillion less than President Obama’s budget, repeal funding for the Affordable Care Act, phase in a voucher system for Medicare, and cut $700 billion from Medicaid over the next decade. Minnesota’s political leaders were quick to respond to the proposal, with reactions falling along partisan lines.

Tim Pawlenty, a potential candidate in 2012, praised the budget:

Thanks to Paul Ryan in Congress, the American people finally have someone offering real leadership in Washington. President Obama has failed to lead and make tough choices his entire time in the White House. While the budget is going to be debated for several months to come, the more immediate issue we face is President Obama’s plans to raise the debt ceiling next month. That’s a really bad idea. With over $14 trillion debt already, we should not allow Washington’s big spenders to put us further in the hole. We must get our fiscal house in order with real spending cuts and with real structural reforms that stop the spending spree before it bankrupts our country.

In an email to supporters, Rep. John Kline called the budget “tough” and “responsible.”

Earlier today, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (Wis.) unveiled “The Path to Prosperity: Restoring America’s Promise” – the GOP FY 2012 budget resolution. The proposal we have unveiled is a tough, responsible budget that will help America’s job creators put our nation back to work, secure America’s future by stopping Washington from spending money it doesn’t have, and preserve benefits for today’s seniors while strengthening the safety net for our children and grandchildren. This budget will restore economic certainty and put our nation back on the path to prosperity.

Rep. Michele Bachmann was a bit measured in her reaction to the budget:

“The fiscal disaster that’s been perpetuated by record levels of government spending is threatening to ruin our country. We need a way out and this plan merits our full attention. House Republicans are offering a budget resolution that is focused on job creation and debt reduction; the two key issues that the American people sent us here to address. This plan is proof that the new majority is heeding the calls of the American people to cut spending.

“The choice before us could not be clearer. President Obama’s spending plan will batter our economy and destroy jobs by adding $9.1 trillion to our national debt over the next ten years and raising taxes by $1.5 trillion. In stark contrast, the Republican plan cuts $6.2 trillion in spending from the President’s budget. The plan intends to fully repeal ObamaCare and cut spending for it. This is what I have been working towards all along.

“I look forward to reviewing this plan further. It is time to put our nation on a sustainable fiscal path.”

Rep. Keith Ellison, along with Progressive Caucus co-chair Raul Grijalva, penned an opinion piece zt Politico criticizing the budget. Here’s an excerpt:

In fact, this budget that punishes working families, while putting more of our tax dollars in the pockets of the rich, is nothing more than a Republican Roadmap to Ruin.

We know what happened during the 2000s — when Republicans failed to protect U.S. consumers, let Wall Street police itself and rigged the tax code in favor of a fortunate few. The Great Recession isn’t a coincidence — it’s cause and effect.

What do we see after years of corporate handouts at the expense of working families? Millions of Americans have lost their jobs and can’t find new ones. Millions of Americans have been kicked out of their homes. Americans who work hard every day and play by the rules can’t afford to send their kids to college.