Paul Ryan on Deficits and Debt

Summary

Congressman Ryan has been a vocal supporter of reforms to spending and limitations in an effort to control the national debt. His view on debt and spending is that he opposes raising taxes to balance the budget and supports lowering the rate of increase in spending. In keeping with this view, he ties the overall spending and the crisis in the future to the need to reform entitlement spending.

Early Reform Attempts

In 2004 and 2005, Congressman Ryan attempted several times to put in place reforms to curtail spending. This began with criticism of the 2004 budget proposed by President Bush, when he stated that the current budget process doesn’t encourage thrift but rather invites the government to spend beyond its means. A month later, Congressman Ryan noted that while he voted in favor of the budget, he wanted to give the budget the force of law to put teeth in the budget and make its spending restraints enforceable. 

A few months later, Congressman Ryan was able to support legislation that would accomplish those reforms he was speaking about earlier when he supported the Family Budget Protection Act. Among the reforms created in this legislation were a rescission that allowed the President to point out pork barrell spending and force a vote on it. This would be similar to a line-item veto. In total, the legislation would:

• Give the federal budget the force of law
• Create budget protection accounts that allow Members to redirect savings toward tax relief or deficit reduction.
• Initiate enhanced rescission authority for the President to propose the elimination of wasteful spending
• Simplify the current budget by replacing the 20 budget functions with a one-page budget, establishing spending levels for only five broad spending categories: mandatory spending, non-defense and defense discretionary spending, interest and emergencies.
• Abolish the practice of designating spending as “emergencies” to avoid spending safeguards.
• Allow for biennial budgeting in the future i
• Limit growth in entitlement spending to inflation and the growth in population.
• Set caps on discretionary (non-mandatory) spending that allow it to grow for inflation
• Raise the bar for points of order to require a two-thirds supermajority vote in both the House and the Senate to sanction over-budget spending and spending in violation of the caps.

In late 2005, Congressman Ryan supported the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. This legislation was different from the previous legislation in that it mostly addressed entitlements whereas the previous legislation addressed spending overall. Specifically, the legislation would:

• Limit Medicaid to grow at 7.5 percent each year over the next ten years, instead of the projected 7.7 percent. 
• Reform food stamp eligibility requirements by limiting automatic enrollment 
• Assume $1 billion (a 50% increase) in additional funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program 
• Maintain federal participation in the child support program while gradually reducing the federal matching rate for child support administrative costs from 66 percent in 2006 to 50 percent in 2010 

Balanced Budget and PAYGO Rules

In January of 2007, Congressman Ryan supported President Bush's call for a balanced budget without raising taxes. He stated that Washington does not have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem, and that is where discipline is needed. 

Just days later, Congressman Ryan opposed the resintitution of PAYGO rules, claiming that the new rules would not curtail spending. He noted that the new PAYGO rules would allow the House to increase spending as much as it likes – as long as they “pay for” it by cutting other spending or increasing taxes, the rules would apply only to new spending, doesn't reduce deficit but rather holds it steady, makes spending increases permanent and tax cuts temporary, and allows for money to spent today with the promise of spending cuts in the future. In addition, the old PAYGO rules enacted across the board spending cuts if the budget was not balanced while the new rules only raised a point of order that could easily be dismissed. The rules also made it easier to raise taxes and harder to lower spending.

The Ryan Alternative

In 2007, Congressman Ryan opposed the budget put forth by the Democratic majority. He proposed an alternative budget that he believed would balanced the budget by 2012, pay off $99 billion in debt, stop using excess Social Security funds, and maintain the Bush tax cuts. His proposal would freeze annually appropriated non-defense spending for the next fiscal year at the 2007 level (excluding emergencies). Within this amount, increases would be made for homeland security, veterans’ health care and related activities, medical research, Community Development Block Grants, and science and technology. Reforms to entitlements would be implemented so that the average annual growth of overall entitlement spending would be lowered from 5.2 percent per year to 4.3 percent. Earmark transparency rules would be put in place and the US would adopt the legislative line-item veto. PAYGO rules would also be strengthened so that spending increases require offsets. Discretionary spending limits would be set through 2012. A set-aside fund would budget $6.45 billion for domestic emergencies.

Debt Ceiling Increases

There have been 11 votes in Congress to raise the debt limit while Congressman Ryan has been in office. He voted in favor of the first 4 increases from 2002 to 2005. He voted against all of the remaining debt ceiling increases with the exception of the increase that was part of the TARP legislation.

The Path to Prosperity

To address the overall debt, Congressman Ryan has proposed legislation called the Path to Prosperity, which is commonly referred to as the Paul Ryan Plan. This plan addresses all of the facets that Congressman Ryan has spoken about in the past as necessary to address deficits. This includes reforming Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Among the specific budgetary items in the Paul Ryan Plan, there is a cap on total government spending at 19% of GDP. It also establishes discretionary caps, enforced by sequestration, to freeze non-defense discretionary spending. It also includes a mechanism similar to that included in legislation Congressman Ryan proposed in 2005 that looked at a 5 year period and if spending exceeded limits, it required the OMB to make across-the-board spending reductions in both mandatory and discretionary programs by a percentage calculated to bring spending under the cap.

Criticism of the Bush Budget

In February of 2004, Congressman Ryan issued a press statement noting his view that the Bush budget does not go far enough to reign in spending and address long term fiscal issues.

Support for Giving Budget the Force of Law

In March of 2004, Congressman Ryan issued a press statement noting his view that giving the budget the force of law would go a long way towards reingning in spending.

Family Budget Protection Act

In June of 2004, Congressman Ryan issued a press statement noting his support for the Family Budget Protection Act. He also noted the key provisions of the legislation. Congressman Ryan reintroduced this same legislation in June of 2005 and called for its passage.

Limiting Budgets to Spending Bills

In March of 2005, Congressman Ryan issued a press statement noting his support for a provision within a budget bill to require a House vote if a spending bill went over the budget prediction.

Deficit Reduction Act

In November of 2005, Congressman Ryan supported the Deficit Reduction Act. This legislation would reduce the growth of mandatory spending programs from 6.4 percent to 6.3 percent.

Reaction to Call for Balanced Budget

In January of 2007, Congressman Ryan issued a press statement noting his support for a recent call by President Bush to balance the budget. He states in the release that the US has a spending problem and not a revenue problem.

Opposition to PAYGO Rules

In January of 2007, Congressman Ryan released a press statement noting his support for an earmarks reform package and his opposition to PAYGO rules that were passed in the House. The press statement notes a number of provisions in the legislaiton that allow for pay beyond the balanced level of budgeting.

Response to Bush's Budget

In February of 2007, Congressman Ryan issued a press statement noting his reaction to the budget proposed by President Bush. He notes that he supports the balancing of the budget without raising taxes.

Opposition to Democratic Budget

In March of 2007, Congressman Ryan released a press statement noting his opposition to the budget as proposed by the Democratic leadership in the House.

The Ryan Alternative

In March of 2007, Congressman Ryan issued a press statement noting a alternative budget that he was proposing that he claimed balanced the budget by 2012.

Opposition to Debt Ceiling Raise

On February 4, 2010 Congressman Ryan spoke on the House floor about his opposition to a proposed raise in the debt ceiling. In that speech, he asserted that the Democratic House Speaker was happy about raising the debt limit by $1.9 trillion.

Official Website Statements

Voting Record

Braun Amendment to Cut Spending

In June of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Braun of Georgia. The measure would have cut spending for the Congressional Research Service by $878,000 in the Legislative Branch appropriations bill. The amendment passed 214-189. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Gosar Amendment to Cut Spending

In June of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Gosar of Arizona. The measure would have cut spending for the Botanic Garden by $1.2 million in the Legislative Branch approprations bill. The amendment passed 213-193. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Polis Amendment to Cut Spending

In June of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Polis of Colorado. The measure would have made an across-the-board reduction of 2 percent in the DHS approps bill's discretionary spending, with some exceptions.The amendment failed 99-316. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Broun Amendment to Cut Spending

In June of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Broun of Georgia. The measure would have cut spending for all of the administrative expense accounts in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill by 3 percent, with some exceptions.The amendment failed 140-273. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Flake Amendment to Cut Spending

In June of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Flake of Arizona. The measure would have made an across-the-board reduction of 0.27 percent in the E&W approps bill's discretionary spending. The amendment failed 144-274. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Mulvaney Amendment to Cut Spending

In June of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Mulvaney of South Carolina. The measure would have cut spending in the E&W approps bill by 24 percent, with some exceptions.The amendment failed 125-293. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Blackburn Amendment to Cut Spending

In June of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Blackburn of Tennessee. The measure would have made an across-the-board cut of 1 percent in the E&W approps bill's discretionary spending. The amendment failed 157-261. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Chabot Amendment to Cut Spending

In June of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Chabot of Ohio. The measure would have eliminated all funding in the E&W approps bill for the Appalachian Regional Commission, Delta Regional Authority, Denali Commission, Northern Border Regional Commission and Southeast Crescent Regional Commission. The amendment failed 141-276. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Burgess Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Burgess of Texas. The measure would have cut spending for defense nuclear nonproliferation activities by $100 million in the E&W approps bill. The amendment failed 168-249. Paul Ryan voted against the spending cut.

McClintock Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman McClintock of California. The measure would have eliminated all funding in the E&W approps bill for fossil fuel programs. The amendment failed 138-249. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

McClintock Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman McClintock of California. The measure would have cut spending for nuclear energy activities by $514 million in the E&W approps bill. The amendment failed 106-281. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

McClintock Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman McClintock of California. The measure would have eliminated all funding provided in the E&W approps bill for renewable energy programs. The amendment failed 113-275. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Chaffetz Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Chaffetz of Utah. The measure would have cut spending for energy efficiency and renewable energy activities by $74 million in the Energy & Water (E&W) appropriations bill. The amendment failed 140-245. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Broun Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Broun of Georgia. The measure would have cut spending in the CJS approps bill by 12.2 percent. The amendment failed 105-307. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Blackburn Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Blackburn of Tennessee. The measure would have cut spending in the CJS approps bill by 1 percent. The amendment failed 160-251. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Scott Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Scott of Georgia. The measure would have eliminated all funding provided in the CJS approps bill for the Legal Services Corporation. The amendment failed 122-289. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Westmoreland Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Westmoreland of Georgia. The measure would have cut spending for the Legal Services Corporation by $128 million in the CJS approps bill.The amendment failed 165-246. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Flake Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Flake of Arizona. The measure would have cut spending for the National Science Foundation by $1.2 billion in the CJS approps bill. The amendment failed 121-291. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Broun Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Broun of Georgia. The measure would have cut spending for expenses associated with the restoration of Pacific salmon populations by $15 million. The amendment failed 168-239. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Harris Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Harris of Maryland. The measure would have cut spending for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by $542,000. The amendment passed 219-189. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Quayle Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Quayle of Arizona. The measure would have cut spending for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) by $21 million. The amendment failed 147-259. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Pompeo Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Pompeo of Kansas. The measure would have cut spending for the Economic Development Administration (EDA) by $219.5 million. The amendment failed 129-279. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Scalise Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Scalise of Louisiana. The measure would have cut spending for the Economic Development Administration by $7.5 million and reduce funding for the Commerce Department by $10.7 million in the CJS appropriations bill. The amendment failed 174-233. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

McClintock Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman McClintock of California. The measure would have cut spending for the International Trade Administration by $277.8 million in the CJS approps bill.The amendment failed, 121-287. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Broun Amendment to Cut Spending

In May of 2012, the House voted on an amendment put forth by Congressman Broun of Georgia. The measure would have cut spending in the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) appropriations bill by about 3 percent.The amendment failed, 137-270. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the spending cut.

Balanced Budget Amendment

In November of 2011, the House voted on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. This particular amendment would have required a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber for the congress to spend more than it took in and to increase the public debt limit. It also authorized waivers when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict. The measure did not achieve the 3/5 needed to pass in a 261-165 vote. Paul Ryan voted against the balanced budget amendment.

Budget Control Act of 2011

In August of 2011, the House voted on the Budget Control Act of 2011. The legislation raised the debt ceiling in increments and created a committee to find cuts in the budget or other methods to lower the deficit. The measure passed 269-161. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the Budget Control Act of 2011.

Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011

In July of 2011, the House voted on legislation to cut spending on discretionary and other items, cap the amount the federal government can spend as a function of GDP, and require a balanced budget. The legisaltion also provided for an increase in the debt limit. The measure passed the House in a 234-190 vote. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the cut, cap, and balance plan.

Increasing the statutory debt limit

In May of 2011, the House voted on an increase in the statutory debt limit from $14.294 trillion to $16.7 trillion. The increase failed to pass by a vote of 97-318. It was never voted on in the Senate. Paul Ryan voted against the debt ceiling increase.

Return to 2008 Spending Levels

In January of 2011, the House voted on a bill to reduce spending on non-security items to fiscal year 2008 levels. The measure passed 254-165. Paul Ryan voted in favor of reducing spending to 2008 levels.

Debt Ceiling Increase to $14.294 Trillion

In February of 2010, the House voted to pass legislation that dealt with PAYGO rules and increased the debt ceiling to $14.294 trillion. The vote passed 233-187. Paul Ryan voted against the debt increase.

Increasing the Debt Ceiling to $12.394 trillion

In December of 2009, the House voted to increase the debt ceiling to $12.394 trillion. The measure passed 218-214. Paul Ryan voted against increasing the debt limit.

Stimulus - Debt Ceiling Increase to $12.104 trillion

In January of 2009, the House voted to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - otherwise known as the stimulus. The act passed 244-188 and contained language to increase the debt ceiling to $12.104 trillion. Paul Ryan voted against passing the legislation that contained a debt ceiling increase.

TARP - Debt Ceiling Increase to $11.315 trillion

In October of 2008, the House voted to pass the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - TARP. Within the act, the debt limit was increased to $11.315 trillion. The legislation passed the House 263-171. Paul Ryan voted in favor of increasing the debt limit to $11.315 trillion.

Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - Debt Ceiling Increase to $10.615 trillion

In August of 2007, the House passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Included in that legislation was an increase to the debt ceiling to $10.615 trillion. The legislation passed the House 241-172. Paul Ryan voted against the legislation to increase the debt ceiling.

Congressional Budget - Raising the Debt Ceiling to $9.815 trillion

In May of 2007, the House voted to pass the budget for that year. Within the budget was a measure that increased the debt ceiling to $9.815 trillion. The budget passed 214-209. Paul Ryan voted against the budget which contained a debt ceiling increase to $9.815 trillion.

Budget - Debt Ceiling Increase to $8.965 trillion

In April of 2005, the House passed H Con Res 95 which was the budget. Within that legislation was language to increase the debt ceiling to $8.965 trillion. The legislation passed 214-211. Paul Ryan voted in favor of legislation that increased the debt ceiling to $8.965 trillion.

Debt Ceiling Increase to $8.184 trillion

In November of 2004, the House passed legislation to increase the debt ceiling to $8.184 trillion. The legislation passed 208-204. Paul Ryan voted in favor of increasing the debt ceiling to $8.184 trillion.

Debt Ceiling Increase to $7.384 trillion

In April of 2003, the House passed a budget that contained an increase in the debt ceiling to $7.384 trillion. This measure passed the House 216-211. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the budget which included the debt ceiling increase.

Debt Ceiling Increase to $6.4 trillion

In June of 2002, the House voted to pass legislation to enact an increase to the debt ceiling to $6.4 trillion. The measure passed 215-214. Paul Ryan voted in favor of the debt ceiling increase to $6.4 trillion.

Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation

Session-111; Bill Number-H Res 949; Statutory Limit on Public Debt - Cosponsor

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a two-thirds vote on a stand-alone bill to increase the statutory limit on the public debt.

Session-110; Bill Number-H J Res 1; Constitutional Amendment - Balanced Budget - Cosponsor

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

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