Paul Ryan (politician)

Infobox Congressman
name= Paul Ryan

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state= Wisconsin
district= 1st
party= Republican
term_start= January 3, 1999
preceded= Mark Neumann
succeeded= Incumbent
date of birth= birth date and age|1970|01|29
place of birth= Janesville, Wisconsin
occupation= marketing consultant, political assistant
Alma mater= Miami University
religion= Roman Catholic
spouse= Janna Ryan
residence= Janesville, Wisconsin
alma_mater= Miami University

Paul D. Ryan, Jr. (born January 29, 1970) is an American politician and Congressman from Wisconsin. He is a member of the Republican Party, and represents ushr|Wisconsin|1| ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/wi01_109.gifmap] ) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Personal life

Ryan, born and raised in Janesville, Wisconsin, is a fifth-generation Wisconsin native currently serving his fifth term in Congress.

Ryan is a graduate of Joseph A. Craig High School in Janesville and earned a degree in economics and political science from Miami University in Ohio. He has worked in the private sector as an economic analyst and previously served as president of his own consulting firm.

He is the Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee and a senior member on the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over revenue matters including Social Security, health care and tax policy.

Ryan and his wife Janna live in Janesville, WI with their children, Liza, Charlie and Sam.

Political career

Ryan worked as an aide to U.S. Senator Bob Kasten beginning in 1992 and as legislative director for Sam Brownback of Kansas from 1995 to 1997. He served as a speech writer to "drug czar" William Bennett and to Jack Kemp during his run for the vice presidency.

He was first elected to the House in 1998 after two-term incumbent Mark Neumann made an unsuccessful bid for the Senate. Ryan defeated 35-year-old beer distributor Brian Morello in the Republican primary and Democrat Lydia Spottswood in the general election by a 57-42 margin. Ryan was likely aided by the landslide re-election victory of Governor Tommy Thompson.

He defeated perennial candidate Jeffrey C. Thomas in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.

On February 17, 2008, Ryan was noted as a possible Vice Presidential candidate for presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Senator John McCain by journalist Robert Novak on NBC's Meet the Press.

In the general election on November 4, 2008, Ryan will face Marge Krupp, who won the Democratic primary.

Committee assignments

The congressman is the Ranking Member of the U.S. House Committee on the Budget and is a member of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee. Ryan also currently serves on the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means and its Subcommittee on Social Security.

Electoral history

*2008 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
**Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 0%
**Marge Krupp (D), 0%
*2006 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
**Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 160,033 votes, 63%
**Jeffrey Thomas (D), 95,303 votes, 37%
*2004 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
**Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 65%
**Jeffrey Thomas (D), 33%
*2002 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
**Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 67%
**Jeffrey Thomas (D), 31%
*2000 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
**Paul Ryan (R) (inc.), 67%
**Jeffrey Thomas (D), 33%
*1998 Race for U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
**Paul Ryan (R), 57%
**Lydia Spottswood (D), 43%

External links

* [http://www.house.gov/ryan/ Congressman Paul Ryan] official U.S. House website
* [http://www.ryanforcongress.com Paul Ryan for U.S. Congress] official campaign site
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Paul_Ryan Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia