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Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Ryan's counterpart on budget and fiscal issues, sounds off on Romney's VP pick and what it's like to work with the Wis. congres...
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-- Paul Ryan is known for his conservative ideas especially when it comes to the budget.
But can you peel off any democratic votes.
Democratic represent Chris van Holland knows congressman Ryan -- than just about any other Democrat on Capitol Hill.
They worked together on the House Budget Committee we spoke with -- -- -- earlier tonight.
-- -- CSX it's good to be back.
Time now I know -- very deep divisions with the Republican Party and -- It's congressman Ryan as well you -- the ranking member of the House Budget Committee -- right that's right -- -- before we get into into the -- of the differences I'm curious how are you working closely is T -- man cool you can work with negotiate.
Talk to.
Let's take them one at a time I get along very well -- Paul.
Personally and yes we can talk on different.
Issues at hand as you know we have.
But we also as you said disagreed very deeply.
On the policy issues how we have very fierce but all we civil.
Debates.
When it comes to negotiation have to say if you look at.
Paul's budget the Ryan budget it's an uncompromising document every one of the democratic amendments we offered that went to a roll call vote.
Were rejected and we'll post passionate about what he believes and she is as Mitt Romney said the -- -- ideological leader of the Republicans and in the in the house.
And that means in some ways that budgets sort of become that the Tea Party manifesto it's not a compromising documents uncompromising.
-- see that kind of member and I assume there's a whole array of different kinds of members -- house represented.
Who draws the line in the sand and says it's my way or no way I'm the chairman Morrissey -- says here's my idea I really think my ideas right.
But let me hear what you have to say and maybe I don't think so but maybe out but really -- thinking about what -- say.
We certainly willing to hear what other people have to say I mean after all we on the democratic side in the house we offered a full alternative.
Budget how we didn't get any support.
From the Republicans are from Paul but.
Obviously they were willing to listen but there's a big difference between a willingness to listen a willingness to engage in civil discussion.
And a willingness to actually compromise and -- What you mean humor or -- really mean it do you think -- -- humor when you offering your idea or do you think that he was genuinely interest -- my dad sent.
Well I think he was interest in what we have to say.
But how I think he is so fixed.
On his own views and passionate about.
His own views.
That in some ways it has I think blinded him to the acts on the other side but.
Look again I think the good news.
For the country is at least in the Budget Committee we have civil debates I think the bad news from my perspective.
Is that if we were actually to adopt the Ryan Romney plan.
I do believe it would be very bad for the country but that's what this election -- about it's about the choice I think by putting Paul Ryan on the taken Mitt Romney has -- that choice.
They say the Ryan Romney's plan and that's right here for the Democrats and I feel a little bit pound gained by that description just like a -- game whether Republicans when they referred to his -- Ryan Wyden plan.
In an effort to sort of make it look like it's anybody but Paul Ryan's.
Com it do you agree that it says it's to Paul Ryan plan.
And that governor Romney has even eat you -- -- -- adopted but that he has put out a different plan.
And there's some things he likes of -- -- for some things are different that there -- -- separate governor Romney plan.
-- two issues one is the overall power Ryan budget plan his plan for the economy and Mitt Romney just said the other day that.
They were virtually on the same page with respect to that those -- Mitt Romney's words with respect to that Medicare plan.
Mitt Romney just the other day said when it came to the Medicare.
Parts of their plan they're also virtually identical and both of them I should stress.
Save money not by reducing the costs in Medicare but by transferring.
Those cost -- to seniors and those plans would both give seniors on Medicare Greta.
-- much worse deal than members of congress have for themselves they would put seniors on Medicare and much greater financial risk.
-- and the health plan for members of kind.
I actually went back through and there there are some difference and here we can go to the winds between these so called Ryan plan and governor Romney plan.
Com the other feel -- feel little differences but let me ask you if if if there's one thing you could identify.
In the Ryan budget that is the easiest cleanest and description of how different -- Your ideas from compact -- too Ryan what is it.
We're sure at the heart of the Orion plant is this idea that we should give -- -- -- round of windfall tax breaks to folks at the very high end of the income ladder.
They don't ask for one more penny from the wealthiest Americans.
To help reduce the deficit.
What does that mean -- simple math tells you that if you ask nothing from folks very top and you wanna reduce the deficit which we should.
It means you.
-- everybody else in the process and that's why it does -- seniors it will require seniors to pay much higher costs.
It does mean a lot lower investment in our kids' education.
And on their tax plan.
And this has been verified by the by the independent Tax Policy Center which Mitt Romney once described as an authoritative source.
They would actually raise taxes on middle income taxpayers.
To finance additional tax cuts for folks at the very top.
As opposed to the president's plan if you look at his budget it's a much more balanced approach it has cuts but it also asked folks -- the very top.
To share more responsibility Erskine Bowles of course one of the co chairs of Simpson Bowles just wrote recently that the president's plan is much closer to the principal.
-- Simpson -- the balanced approach than the Romney plan.
I suppose it's in the video that's been passed row where Erskine Bowles is -- last August 7.
Paul Ryan in his budget plan and his earnest.
Who did.
I ran -- he was that he wants to fix things and.
Person did was he praised a -- as a person of integrity.
He did not -- budget plan and I think anyone should ask person today.
That question in fact Erskine Bowles -- didn't tell Simpson issued a statement about.
The Ryan plan and they said it lacked the balance.
There was that the harder Simpson Bowles -- -- specifically said.
That the president's plan.
Has that kind of balance and Mitt Romney's plan does not that's what they've said as recently as a few weeks ago.
And the what do what do what -- Republican might say I think what governor Romney in -- president Paul Ryan may say is that perhaps a -- against -- brokered.
To use expression and the Republicans are now using when someone says something you want to backed down.
And they also make reference to -- senator Wyden.
Who who -- too much of bipartisan agreements with congressman Ryan and now he is backing down some statements when.
I think first and most backing out of statement he said that he thought all right was a man of integrity is not backing down that -- yeah.
And it just got in the back ice what I sort of understood from mean Erskine Bowles and -- this now we're really into the weeds -- everyone that has a lot of fighting went back and forth.
It is said he thought that he was someone people should listen to congressman Ryan.
-- and it was not fully endorsing everything but -- thought it was encouraging that good at bat I think isn't a man who has some ideas and worthless connect.
Well look everybody should listen to everybody else but I think if you go back -- -- look at the full.
Erskine -- tape that he said that he thought Paul Ryan was personal integrity but.
He had a -- has serious problems with the Ryan plan and they issued a statement and issue a formal statement saying that that play and black the balance.
Necessary.
Has called for -- some -- And they -- five cents to say you -- -- video.
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