First District Congressman Paul Ryan’s Kenosha listening session was more like the old days, no vocal outbursts and no need to urge civility and respect. It was just issues like the economy and immigration. There was extra security for the former Republican Vice Presidential nominee who became a polarizing figure in his national profile, in part due to his austere budget proposal.
In the gathering of more than 100 people, Ryan’s higher profile came up in a question about how it’s helping him better represent his district. He responded “it has given me a bigger voice which means a greater ability to push some of these reforms and try to get them done.”
AUDIO: Ryan on being back in WI (:23)
During a discussion on the Boston Marathon bombings—where a pair of Chechen-born brothers may have received foreign help—Ryan cited the need for a “moderate immigration system so we really have good knowledge of who’s coming and who’s going.”
On education, Ryan expressed disagreement with the current federal system saying it is the constitutional responsibility of the states, while politics are a reason for the status quo.
“It makes a federal politician look really good when they stand at a podium talking about the last education bill they passed,” Ryan said.
Tom Karkow-WRJN contributed to this report