Allyson Schwartz's Reaction to Paul Ryan

Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz sent this out in reaction to the selection of Congressman Paul Ryan as the Republic vice presidential candidate:

“Mitt Romney made it clear today in selecting Congressman Paul Ryan as his vice presidential nominee that his vision for America means leaving middle class American families behind and our country without the tools it needs to compete in a 21st century global economy.

In serving with Paul Ryan on the House Budget Committee, I have seen firsthand Ryan's rigid commitment to fiscal and economic policies that have failed to grow the economy in the past and devastated so many Americans.

Americans believe in the promise of Medicare for our seniors, but Paul Ryan is committed to ending Medicare as we know it. His voucher plan leaves seniors on their own, with the average senior having to pay more than $6,000 annually out of pocket. Seniors would pay more for prescription drugs and preventive care.

For young Americans, a Romney-Ryan ticket means deep cuts in student loans and would make a college education unattainable for many middle class families.

Ryan gets a lot of credit from pundits for his fiscal policies. But, when he was faced with an opportunity to vote for a bold, bipartisan plan to reduce the federal deficit, he walked away from his so-called commitment to fiscal responsibility and voted ‘no’.

Moving our country forward means ensuring it moves forward for everyone, not just a select few. I believe that. Americans believe it. But, the policies embraced by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would turn the clock back on America's greatest asset as a nation of opportunity and hope for all of us. The choice this November could not be more clear or more important.”