Speaker of the House Paul Ryan told voters on Thursday that he planned to present a complete counter to "the left's agenda" in his tenure in Congress. Ryan made it clear that he wanted to give voters a choice, and even if President Barack Obama vetoed his legislative proposals, he'd be sending a message to the Democratic Party.
According to the New York Times, Ryan said, "Our No. 1 goal for the next year is to put together a complete alternative to the left's agenda." He continued, "Only government that sends power back to the people can make America confident again."
According to the Daily Caller, Ryan placed particular emphasis on overhauling the federal tax code, a major focus of the Congressman's during his time as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
Mr. Ryan also said he would pursue trade deals that would benefit American manufacturers. He said that he wanted to look forward instead of backward. "And I don't mean just undo what the president has done - as if we could time-travel back to 2009," Mr. Ryan explained. "I mean show what we would do, what our ideal policy would be - looking forward to 2017 and beyond."
Some criticize Ryan's plans as unrealistic. In the face of a budget from the House that would repeal the Affordable Care Act, some are wondering whether the Republican's main focus is governance or political showmanship.
"We still have enormous problems. But now the country is divided," Mr. Ryan said. "And the federal government has grown arrogant, it has grown condescending and outright paternalistic. So I'd say what we've seen these past seven years is the illusion of success."
Mr. Ryan's efficacy as Speaker in the coming years has been called into question, as many in the Republican party fear the apparent fracturing of the base and establishment on display during the Republican primary contest.
