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Doheny: Ryan Pick 'Exciting'

Story Published: Aug 13, 2012 at 6:49 PM EDT

Story Updated: Aug 13, 2012 at 6:49 PM EDT

Mitt Romney's decision to pick Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate split the north country race for Congress along entirely predictable lines.

To Matt Doheny, the Republican candidate for the new 21st district, Ryan is "an exciting pick."

To incumbent Congressman Bill Owens, Ryan's calls for major changes to Medicare and the tax system are unacceptable.

"Virtually everything you can think of, his (Ryan's) budget will cut," Owens said.

As chairman of the House budget committee, Ryan has proposed budgets that rethink the role of government. The budgets are in keeping - and highly popular with - the most conservative wing of the Republican Party. To many Democrats, the Ryan budget unfairly shifts more of the tax burden to lower wage earners, while slashing what government offers as a social 'safety net.'

"I think what we're gonna hear is a lot about the Ryan budget, which has a tremendous negative impact on seniors over time," Owens said.

To the contrary, Doheny argues President Obama's health care reform, supported by Owens, siphons $700 million from Medicare. And while he thinks Ryan's spending plan doesn't go far enough, fast enough toward a balanced budget, Doheny sees Ryan as someone ready to deal with the country's problems.

"Governor Romney picked somebody to work together on the twin challenges that face our country - high unemployment and our huge debt," Doheny said.

 

 
Friday, May 24, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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