Newly minted Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan has been on the campaign trail for only a week and has spent much of that playing defense. Defending his running mate's decision to not release his tax returns, his controversial plan for Medicare and his own experience.
We spoke with Ryan one on one after his speech in Glen Allen and touched on all of those topics and more.
First our story, with democratic response from NBC12:
For most Virginians, Paul Ryan's introduction onto the national stage was the first time they ever heard of the Congressman from Wisconsin.
This week, our Ryan Nobles was granted an exclusive sit down with the man who wants to be the next Vice President of the United States.
Paul Ryan got his start in politics early. He went to Washington to work on Capitol Hill soon after graduating college.
"I have great experience in congress trying to get things done," he said.
Republicans, including his running mate Mitt Romney are often critical of too much time spent in Washington. Ryan is working to prove he is the exception.
"One of the reasons (Romney) picked me, among other things, is because I can help him get things done," Ryan said.
Among the many things Romney and Ryan plan to get done: reform Medicare. Their plan is something democrats have labeled a "voucher" system.
Ryan called the characterization of their plan as a voucher system “quite inaccurate”.
"A voucher is you go to the mailbox and buy something,” he said. “This is far from that."
Richmond Delegate Jennifer McLellan, a democrat argues that Ryan can call their reform plan what he wants, but it will still cost seniors more.
"His plan to privatize Medicare would raise senior health care cost and estimated $64 hundred," she said.
But as much as Ryan and Romney have worked to make their policies front and center, their personal lives continue to make headlines, specifically how much they pay in taxes. Ryan released his returns this week. Romney has only released two years of returns and said he has never paid lower than 13% of his yearly income.
That 13% figure was a number democrats attacked as being too low.
Paul told us Romney has paid what he was required to pay.
“There are different effective tax rates based on people who make different incomes,” he said. “But if you look at all the studies, we still have a very progressive tax system."
read and see the full story on NBC12.com
Our full uncut interview with Rep. Ryan can be found below:
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