Ryan hears boos from constituents over budget plan

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) heard an unfamiliar sound during one of his voter listening sessions this week: boos from his constituents.
Ryan is the chairman of the House Budget Committee and architect of the Republican budget plan, which plans to cut benefits in the Medicare and Medicaid programs for the elderly and the poor, while lowering the income tax rate for the wealthiest Americans from 35 percent to 25 percent.
During a listening session in Milton, a constituent said to Ryan, “The middle class is disappearing right now. During this time of prosperity, the top 1 percent was taking about 10 percent of the total annual income, but yet today we are fighting to not let the tax breaks for the wealthy expire?"
Ryan told the constituent that he does not “disagree with the premise of what you’re saying. The question is what’s the best way to do this."
The constituent responded, "There’s nothing wrong with taxing the top because it does not trickle down."
"We do tax the top," Ryan said, prompting boos from the audience.
To view a video of the interaction, click here.
According to a new poll by The Washington Post and ABC News, 78 percent of Americans oppose Medicare cuts, 69 percent oppose cutting Medicaid and 72 percent approve raising the taxes on the wealthy.
– BizTimes Milwaukee