Ryan Sees Balanced Budget in 10 Years

Paul Ryan unveiled a Republican budget plan today that would slash $5.1 trillion in federal spending over the coming decade and balance the government's books with wide-ranging cuts in programs like food stamps and government-paid health care for the poor and working class. About 40% of Ryan's projected savings would come from the repeal of ObamaCare, reports the Wall Street Journal. Ryan's budget claims balance by 2024, but relies on $74 billion in savings in that year from the macroeconomic effects of cutting deficits, which CBO says would have a long-term positive effect because it would free up savings and investment capital. Democrats are sure to seize on the maneuver as phony math; without these projections, however, Ryan's budget plan would fall almost $70 billion short of balance.

The New York Times writes that Ryan's plan "will serve more as a 2014 Republican campaign manifesto than a legislative agenda." And the Washington Post says it "amounts to personal manifesto on government austerity from a man who has emerged as the GOP’s leading light on fiscal policy." The Post also notes that Ryan wants to replace the outgoing Dave Camp as the next chair of the Ways and Means panel while still keeping his options open for a 2016 run for the White House. His complete budget blueprint is here via the Hill. (More Paul Ryan stories.)