Paul Ryan lauded for putting forth plan - but many in GOP silent on the specifics

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis. touts his 2012 federal budget during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 5, 2011.

/ AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Updated 5:32 p.m. Eastern Time

Republican budget architect Rep. Paul Ryan today characterized his new budget plan this way: "This is not a budget, this is a cause."

And that cause, he suggested, is to grow the economy by reducing the size and scope of the federal government. Ryan's proposal, called "The Path to Prosperity," says the plan starts "not be asking what is the 'right mix' of tax increases and spending cuts to balance the budget, but by asking what is the purpose of government, and then raising only as much revenue as the federal government needs to efficiently fund those missions that rightly belong in its domain, while maximizing economic growth and job creation."

Rep. Paul Ryan rolls out budget plan that overhauls Medicare, Medicaid

Budgets are statements of both policy and politics, and the Republican budget is no exception. So how have members of the GOP responded? By applauding Ryan for just making that statement and to address the looming federal debt -- while not necessarily addressing the specifics of his policy proposals, which include politically-perilous entitlement reform.

The only freshman Republican in House leadership, Rep. Kristi Noem, had this to say: "You don't have to agree with every detail to acknowledge Rep. Paul Ryan is the only leader who's laid out a realistic budget plan."

The top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, Sen. Jeff Sessions, took the same tack.

"From the Republican House we have seen the most serious effort put forward in our time to solve our long-term fiscal challenges. I applaud Chairman Ryan and his Committee. The contrast between this plan, and the failure of the Democrats who run the Senate and White House, is extraordinary," he wrote. "The only way to get this country off the road to economic crisis and on the road to economic prosperity is to curb spending and get this government under control."

While praising Ryan for taking a bold step, Sessions' statement did not offer comment about the specifics of the proposal.

Among the potential Republican presidential contenders, Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty was out with an early response. "Thanks to Paul Ryan in Congress, the American people finally have someone offering real leadership in Washington," he wrote. But he too failed to take a stand on the specific proposals offered by Ryan.

Rep. Paul Ryan discusses his proposal on "The Early Show" (Video)

Alex Wong

So did likely candidate Mitt Romney, who said in a statement: "I applaud Rep. Paul Ryan for recognizing the looming financial crisis that faces our nation and for the creative and bold thinking that he brings to the debate. He is setting the right tone for finally getting spending and entitlements under control. Anyone who has read my book knows that we are on the same page."

And there was this from Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who is also considering entering the race: "The House budget resolution is the first serious proposal produced byeither party to deal with the overriding issue of our time...Anyone criticizing this plan without offering a specific and equally bold program of his own has failed in the public duty to be honest and clear with Americans about the gravest danger we are facing together."

Some immediate opposition came from governors, who are opposed to the idea of turning Medicaid into a block grant program. Under the plan the federal government would give money to the states to cover the medical costs of the poor; Medicaid is currently a joint federal-state run program.

"As Governors managing budgets in a difficult fiscal environment, we have pursued strategies to reduce Medicaid costs while still preserving the integrity of the program," wrote 17 Democratic governors. "We are concerned that Congress, in an attempt to reduce the federal deficit, may pursue the exact opposition course of action by creating a mandated block grant which would do little to address cost growth while shifting costs to states and threatening program integrity."

David Walker, a longtime budget expert who's warned of increased spending and the skyrocketing costs of Medicare and Medicaid for years, also applauded Ryan for taking the first step.

"Chairman Ryan should be commended for having the courage to lead in connection with our nation's huge deficit and debt challenges," he said. "His budget proposal recognizes that restoring fiscal sustainability will require tough transformational changes in many areas, including spending programs and tax policies."

But Walker cautions that Ryan's plan can't solve the nation's problems effectively without raising taxes where necessary.

"Contrary to Chairman Ryan's proposal, additional defense cuts that do not compromise national security and comprehensive tax reform that raises more revenue also need to be on the table in order to help ensure bipartisan support for any comprehensive fiscal reform proposal," wrote Walker, who is the president of the Comeback America Initiative, an organization promoting fiscal sustainability.

"Our current fiscal policy and path is both irresponsible and morally reprehensible," added Walker. "At the same time, the manner in which we address this challenge also raises key moral questions. Our political leaders from both parties need to be at the table with everything on the table in order to achieve sustainable success."

[cbstest]

Well, I guess the the elderly was once again sold out by the Republicans that Obamacare was a killer bill. This one will surely cause a major heart attack according to plan.

[cbstest]

I don't hear many demanding to read this bill. Coming fromt the Republicans, it probably has more holes in it than swiss cheese.

[RobAla]

"Budgets are statements of both policy and politics, and the Republican budget is no exception. So how have members of the GOP responded? By applauding Ryan for just making that statement and to address the looming federal debt -- while not necessarily addressing the specifics of his policy proposals, which include politically-perilous entitlement reform."

Both President Obama's Debt Commission and the CBO have stated that what we are now doing is UNSUSTAINABLE. In other words, we can not continue down the path we are currently on. Something has to change. However, neither President Obama or the Senate have moved on these warnings and actually done anything about it. At last, someone in the House is putting forth a plan to bring about needed changes which will save this nation.

You have to respect a guy that puts his political career on the line in an attempt to save this nation from economic collapse. In my opinion, Washington is generally filled with those whose first concern is staying in office, not the needs of the nation. Paul Ryan has the guts to address the "untouchable" areas (entitlements) of federal government, in an attempt to salvage some of these programs in a realistic manner. He has started the ball rolling, and it is long overdue.

Thank you, Paul Ryan.

[jimbom121]

Yet Ryan ignores the recommendation included in the commission that taxes need to be raised.

[tafhdyd]

.....many in the GOP are silent on the specifics.....

Translation: They know it is the end of their gravy train if this clown Ryan gets anywhere with it.

The rich Ryan family sent him to congress to keep him out of the family business so he couldn't screw it up.

[nanc12]

by -_-One-American-_- April 5, 2011 2:50 PM EDT
by -_-One-American-_- April 5, 2011 3:24 PM EDT
by -_-One-American-_- April 5, 2011 4:44 PM EDT
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Obviously, the trolls have been ordered to put out the talking points every half hour or so. Just because you know how to continuously cut and paste, it doesn't make it true.

[nanc12]

by jefflz-2009 April 5, 2011 1:32 PM EDT
Privatize Social Security, Privatize Medicare, turn over everything to the big banks and insurance companies and you have a Republican wet dream.
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You forgot, "Give the top tax tier a 10% tax cut." - that's part of the plan, too. Cut back medical care for the poor, middle class & elderly and use those savings to pay for the upper class tax cut. Unbelievable.

[iamproteus]

Not at all "unbelievable" to those who are paying attention instead of hanging on every word that exits the mouths of the repub "leaders". Remember that a tax cut for the top tier is a tax cut for them, too. Not to mention that it also attracts more political donations from the rest of their rich friends. Talk about "double dipping"!!

[cepe10-2009]

In other words he wants to give the medicare, medicaid, and social security funds to his private insurance company cronies, so they can steal the money, fund them selfs with incredible salaries, create a huge overhead where there was none before and reduce the level of service to all... How much so you think the industry pays him to come up with this plans?

[iamproteus]

And don't forget that he also wants to help out all those poor execs even further by cutting their tax burden from 35% to 25%. Of course, it also gives him and all his fellow "leaders" a huge tax break, too. But we mustn't concern ourselves with that. We should just go along with it out of sheer gratitude that they have given SO MUCH of themselves to "serve" the country.

[slatep]

I say SCREW Paul Ryan and SCREW Congress.
Congrss has been screwing American taxpayers out of funds intended for Social Security since Johnson was President.
Legislation shold be introduced and passed TODAY to return funds intended for Social Security to begin placings these funds back in a specific Social Security account.
Social Security would have been self-sustaining forever had not Johnson ordered these funds placed in the General Fund account.
New is not necessarily better.
Go back to what worked and stop fooling around with Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

[cepe10-2009]

No ones remembers the horrific times before social security, and I guess the republicans have not figured out it is not an entitlement, us workers pay into it.

Coporate executives and their boards and cronies are the enemey of the hard-working Americans, producing nothing but adding a huge overhead to the cost of everything.

[LogicRules]

Come on..Ryan's plan is old school, ideology....cut taxes for rich, privatize everything, and pat yourself on the back for your cause. Why so many sound bites from Republcians who care nothing more than their base...and why are we acting like this is something new?

What a ship of fools!

[jefflz-2009]

Privatize Social Security, Privatize Medicare, turn over everything to the big banks and insurance companies and you have a Republican wet dream.

[cbstest]

Absolutely. The senior citizens sold themselves out by the lies of the Republicans concering Obama's healthcare which they could have fixed. Now, the senior citizens are probably having a stroke which is just what the Repubs want.