Tim Ryan: You Have to See This

**Update** I just reloaded the McHenry clip...hope it works this time!

Brad

Cross-posted on the Congressman's official site.

Hey everyone, first off let me introduce myself. I'm Brad Bauman, Congressman Ryan's Communications Director. The Congressman is in a meeting right now but wanted me to give you a quick update on what's been going on today on the floor of the House. For the past 24 hours the Democratic majority in the House has tried to pass two key Appropriations bills that would protect our nation against terrorists and provide world class health care for our veterans.

Please continue below the fold for the rest of the story and some great video from the floor of the House about an hour ago.

My boss, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, is very proud of these bills. The first bill, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, provides an 8 percent increase in funds for border protection and even more money to hire 3,000 new border patrol agents. The second bill sets aside $43.2 billion which will help provide medical services (including mental health and substance abuse assistance) to veterans.

Republicans have been playing games on the floor. Since around 8PM last night, they have been using arcane rules to stop us from passing these bills. We don't understand why. The Republicans CREATED the Department of Homeland Security, the Democratic majority is trying to fund it and now they won’t allow us to pass the bill? They are CONSTANTLY talking about border security, we are trying to fund it and they won’t allow us to pass the bill? They claim to support our troops and then they hold up a bill which would grant them world class healthcare?

This is insane and will not stand. Every minute they grandstand on the floor, every time they start talking about earmarks is another minute where we are not funding these crucial programs! Oh, and lets not forget that under the LAST leadership, the use of earmarks reached its highest level ever. Yet, there are no earmarks in the Homeland Security Appropriations bill or ANY other Appropriations bill. Not ONE, and they claim we are doing things unfairly? About 25 minutes ago, Congressman Ryan was down on the floor and here is what he had to say: (video)

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/6/13/152019/922

Afterwards, Rep. Patrick McHenry gave a response to my boss, Congressman Ryan countered...here is the video:

Tim Ryan was awesome!

Ryan's constituents in Ohio got a good man. I wish he was my rep. Tim Ryan is one of my favorite Dems because he doesn't take any republican crap. He has been a lead member of the 30 Something Dem Working Group's special addresses, and a political brawler during heated debates on the House floor for the two years that I'm aware of. I wish more Dems, especially Harry Reid were more like Ryan.

He is pro life and thus ineligable for a Democratic nomination. Sadly the single issue voters on abortion in our party are too powerful for him to have a chance.

It's going to be somewhere between 10-20 years before Ryan would run for President. We don't know what the abortion debate will be like then.

Here is his numbers on abortion from project vote smart.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=45638

2006 Representative Ryan supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 0 percent in 2006.

2005-2006 Representative Ryan supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 78 percent in 2005-2006.

2005 Representative Ryan supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 15 percent in 2005.

2004 Representative Ryan supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 35 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Representative Ryan supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 73 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Representative Ryan supported the interests of the Democrats for Life of America 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003 Representative Ryan supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 10 percent in 2003.

2000 In 2000 Ohio Right to Life endorsed Representative Ryan.

1995-2004 On the votes that the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Assocation considered to be the most important in 1995-2004, Representative Ryan voted their preferred position 60 percent of the time.

1995-2003 Representative Ryan supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood (House) 33 percent in 1995-2003.