Paul Ryan

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The 2012 budget proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, (left next to Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Democrat) includes additional billions of dollars for defense but at a slower rate of growth. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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PROGRESS: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid comments to the news media Tuesday on the new budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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"We have a moral imperative ... to stand up and do what is necessary to fix this country," House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, said of his budget proposal that reduces government spending by $5.8 trillion over the next 10 years. (Associated Press)

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Speaker of the House John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, talks Tuesday about the budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, who chairs the House Budget Committee. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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**FILE** House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, puts up a chart on Feb. 14 while delivering the GOP response to President Obama's budget submission for fiscal 2012 on Capitol Hill. The nation faces a possible government shutdown if Democrats and Republicans have not agreed by March 4 on an extension for funding the federal government. (Associated Press)

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House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., left, and the Senate Budget Committee's top Republican, Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, right, give the GOP response to President Obama's budget submission for Fiscal Year 2012, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Feb. 14, 2011. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (left), Wisconsin Republican, and the committee's ranking Democrat, Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, are still divided on budget cuts. (Associated Press)