Paul Ryan Focuses on Spending in State of the Union Response

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan delivered the GOP response to President Obama's State of the Union Address Tuesday night. Ryan, who is considered a rising star in the Republican Party, began with well wishes for Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her recovery, and praised Obama's memorial speech in Arizona last week honoring the victims of the Tucson shooting. But Ryan focused on government spending and the national debt. "We face a crushing burden of debt," said Ryan, who represents Wisconsin. "The debt will soon eclipse our entire economy, and grow to catastrophic levels in the years ahead." He pointed to the financial troubles of Ireland, Greece, and the United Kingdom as examples of governments that "didn't act soon enough." Ryan closed by reinforcing the core values of his party, remarking that "Limited government and free enterprise have helped make America the greatest nation on earth."

• See an opinion slide show of the Republican Party's 5 rising stars.
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