Paul Ryan just went off the Fox News reservation at the CBO hearing

[underpants]

Paul Ryan Fact-Checks Republicans On Obamacare Job 'Costs'

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul-ryan-gop-job-losses

House Budget Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) explained in a Wednesday hearing with CBO director Steven Elmendorf that the health care reform law wouldn't cost the U.S. economy more than 2 million jobs, as many of his colleagues alleged, but that Americans would choose to work less.

"I want to make sure we accurately understand what it is you are saying," Ryan said, before leading Elmendorf through a series of questions to explain the report and its findings.

Ryan and Elmendorf combined to explain that Obamacare would lead to a decrease in the number of hours worked by up to 2 percent in 2024. Most of that drop, the CBO said, would be the result of Americans choosing not to work, for various reasons, but not because employers would want to hire fewer workers on account of the law. Translate those lost hours into full-time employment and it equals up to 2.5 million jobs by 2024. But that's not the same as jobs being cut.

"Just to understand, it is not that employers are laying people off," Ryan said.

"That is right," Elmendorf said.

[BlueStreak]

1. It is worse than that. It is the CREATION of 2.5 million jobs

Allowing people to leave the work force when they want to OPENS UP 2.5 MILLION JOBS for people who need the work.

This isn't eliminating any jobs. It is CREATING 2.5 million job openings, and that is a good thing.

[pscot]

2. +1

[Progressive dog]

3. ^^exactly^^

[Dirty Socialist]

5. I Hope I Get One of Those Jobs

[lumberjack_jeff]

13. Exactly

anything that reduces average hours worked helps to constrain the supply of labor, which drives up its value.

[BlueStreak]

14. With the productivity increases we have seen over the past 30 years, the standard work week

should be 35 hours. If we did that, we would have essentially full employment. More people would be paying taxes and fewer would be on SNAP and other assistance. And almost everybody would have a better quality of life.

[LuvNewcastle]

4. That's what was reported on ABC news last night.

I've worked with a lot of people over the years who only worked for the insurance the job provided. ABC also reported that some people won't wish to work because more income would mean less of a subsidy for their insurance. This will be very good for those of us who have had a hard time finding a job, although most of the jobs opened up will probably be lower-paying jobs. Still, I think most of us want to work badly, not just for the income but also just to stay busy. Also, it's hard for most people to get any financing without any kind of job.

[okaawhatever]

6. Maybe Sen Ryan is trying to separate himself from the other 2016 hopefuls by speaking accurately

about the report. He hasn't been overly concerned with the truth in the past.

[BlueStreak]

8. He wants to position himself as the guy that the party bosses can trust

and the teabaggers can get excited about.

And the party bosses are concerned:

a) That some of those teabaggers are so crazy they won't support the party guy

b) changing demographics already mean the the GOP starts in the hole

so they know they need a candidate that can do the "Reagan Democrat" thing. And the "Lyin' Ryan" act isn't the way to do that. So he is looking to overhaul his image a little.

[underpants]

10. That was my impression too. I also agree with BlueStreak

[Mass]

7. poor people are lazy

This was Paul Ryan's point. That people do not want to work and want handouts.

Sad that Tpm could not listen to the end.

[BlueStreak]

9. Yes. But it obviously isn't poor people who choose to leave the work force

once they are no longer terrorized by the health insurance industry. I'm sure there a re a few poor people in that 2.5M, but mostly it will be people who have enough savings to retire early, or are willing to drop back to one spouse working to improve their quality of life.

[Mass]

11. it was ryan's point not mine

Before high fiving him, May be people could listen to his argument. At least, the disingenuous side of the Gop pretends to care if people have or not a job. Ryan calls people lazy.

[BlueStreak]

12. I agree.