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August 20, 2012

Ryan Backed Stimulus Spending in 2002 
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As Paul Ryan seeks to distance himself from his previous proposals on
Medicare, new video has emerged showing another apparent reversal on a
major policy issue. In a 2002 speech on the House floor during debate on
an economic stimulus, Ryan forcefully backed government intervention to
stimulate the economy and help the unemployed. The video was unearthed
by MSNBC's Chris Hayes.

Paul Ryan: "What we're trying to accomplish is to pass the kinds of
legislation, that when they've passed in the past have grown the economy
and gotten people back to work. We want to make it easier for employers
to keep people employed. We want to make it easier for employers to
invest in their businesses, to invest in their employees and to hire
people back to work. And on top of it, for those people who have lost
their jobs we want to help them with their unemployment insurance and
with health insurance. ... What we're trying to accomplish here is a
recognition of the fact that in recessions, unemployment lags on even
well after a recovery has taken place."

 

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