Paul Ryan, Opponent of Paid Family Leave, Demands Congress Respect His Need for Family Time

[KamaAina]

Not The Onion!

http://theslot.jezebel.com/paul-ryan-opponent-of-paid-family-leave-demands-congr-1737781027

Last night, Paul Ryan announced that he’d run for Speaker of the House if his Republican colleagues met a list of demands. Among them: insisting that time Ryan spends with his family not be sacrificed.

Ryan, whose wife and three young children reside in Janesville, Wisconsin, flies home for a visit every weekend. That’s nice. If only he believed that other Americans deserved the same.

In 2009, Ryan voted against a bill that would have given federal employees four weeks of paid paternity leave. ThinkProgress additionally notes that Ryan proposed cuts to child care subsidies for poor parents:...

And we certainly don’t have any enshrined rules that guarantee fathers time away from work to spend with their 10-, 12-, and 13-year-old children. Perhaps if Paul Ryan hadn’t spent much of his political career fighting laws that promote realistic work-life balance for parents of all socioeconomic levels, asking for family time would make him look more like a hero and less like a hypocrite.

[Human101948]

1. I'd bet those trips back and forth are paid for by taxpayers...essentially a family leave benefit

Travel: But the legislative perk to trump all others is travel, says Singer. Not only do you get to fly between D.C. and your home district on taxpayers through the “members representational allowance,” there are lots of ways you can globe-trot on somebody else’s dime. Join a committee, for example, and you can participate in fact-finding trips all over the globe.

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2010/08/04/Congress-Living-High-on-the-Backs-of-Taxpayers

[Action_Patrol]

6. That sounds like your issue is with

The Legislative Branch of Government, not with Ryan.
Take this a-hole out of the equation and just look at what their job is, and I completely understand why they shouldn't pay out of pocket to return home.

[Human101948]

7. What I am saying is that he has de facto paid family leave with an airline ticket thrown in...

but would never vote to provide the same for workers outside of Congress. It's just goddamn gall!

[Action_Patrol]

9. I understand.

[Faux pas]

2. Kickin'

for those who may not remember what an a**hole paul ryan is.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. YES. for a brief flickering moment he seemed half way un-crazy *compared

to the freaks out there now. And, it only took a brief flickering moment for him to remind us !

[Faux pas]

8. Fer sure

lol

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. Jerk. Even if he wasn't against all those benefits - I thought the remark

was just SO Ass-hole-y. Like - I am SO wonderful, I can demand I do whatever I please. Vote on shutting down the government tonight? Nope, gotta go home.

[narnian60]

5. +100

[houston16revival]

10. The Hypocrisy is Eclipsed

only by the arrogance.

Seriously it's what they do at the top to thumb their noses at mere mortals.

They write the rules so they can break them while others must follow the rules.

[Jchall2000]

11. K&R.

[marble falls]

12. If "poor" people had some gumption they'd become Speaker of the House, too. There are alot of...

names Paul Ryan qualifies for than just being a hypocrite.

[ladym55]

13. Zombie-eyed granny starver (thanks to Charlie Pierce)

So the zombie-eyed granny starver gets time with HIS family on weekends, but in his home state of Wisconsin, workers lost that right this year. Huh. Guess only the wealthy and privileged get time with their families. Gotta love the "family values" of the Rethuglican party.

[smirkymonkey]

14. I so can't stand this guy. I was hoping we'd never see him again after the last election.

Every time I saw his face I had this uncontrollable urge to punch him, and I am not a violent, physical person. He just kind of brings that out in me. Somebody make him go away again.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

15. What an asshole

Enough said.

[NonMetro]

16. So, Let's See: The Ayn Rand Devotee, Who Views Most Americans As "Looters" & "Moochers"

Wants to be third in line for the presidency? Oh well, I guess that's about par for the course around here.

[KamaAina]

17. Barack and Joe better watch their backs.

Just sayin'.