Visit From Paul Ryan

For John, BLUF:  As Republicans we gain hope from successes elsewhere.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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I went to the Mass Fiscal Alliance reception for US Rep Paul Ryan (R-Wisc) on Tuesday.  He is from my wife's home town, Janesville.  More important, he is the Chairman of the House Budget Committee.

It was a nice event.  I enjoyed myself.  Met people, including Mr Chip Faulkner, from Citizens for Limited Taxation.  I also met Ms Catherine Roman, Chairman of the North Attleboro Republican Town Committee

A couple of the items covered by Rep Ryan:

• As Republicans we should be pro-market, rather than pro-business.
• There is a certain immorality to the minimum wage.  If a kid can't get a summer job at $8.00 per hour, how is he going to get one at $15.00.♠
• Common Core is dead in the water.  The Feds should work on funding the unfunded mandates the local schools face.
• Because of his position in funding the next race (helping out) he was unwilling to opine on this or that candidate.
• And, he bragged that Congress has passed a budget.

The item on the budget was timely, as noted by The Hill  This was the work of both Rep Paul Ryan and Senator Mike Enzi, Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Budget.♥

Republicans pass a budget, flexing power of majority.

Congressional Republicans scored a major legislative victory on Tuesday as the Senate adopted the first bicameral GOP budget agreement in a decade.

The 51-48 vote capped weeks of work by Republican leaders in the House and Senate, who shepherded the blueprint through a messy debate over defense spending that at times threatened to split their conferences.

The blueprint passed the House last week, and will not require a signature from President Obama.

I hope he takes another look at the top office some time.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  A problem with the Minimum Wage law is that there is much value to youth employment.  A living wage for adults is a different issue.  We need to creativity in this area.
♥  The Ranking Member is Bernie Sanders (S-Vermont) and another minority member is Angus King (I-Maine).  One Republican from our region, Senator Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire)