GOP lawmaker flips on AIG bonus tax

Politico ^ | 26 March 2009 | PATRICK O'CONNOR

[An.American.Expatriate]

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the top Republican on the budget committee, said Thursday he would have voted against the 90 percent tax increase if he had known that legal scholars would deem it unconstitutional.

"Now, that I know — which I didn't at the time — that this is unconstitutional, I wouldn't have voted the same way," Ryan said during a taping of C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" on Thursday — the show is set to air on Sunday. POLITICO was one of the participants in the Ryan interview.

[stockpirate]

Get rid of this RINO.

[9YearLurker]

Unfortunately, I absolutely agree.

[maggief]

“The message was sent that should have been sent,” Ryan said. “These bonuses were completely ridiculous. They rewarded failure.”

The message sent is that Ryan is a complete idiot voting for a bill that is glaringly unconstitutional.

Am I reading that he is getting swishy on his TARP vote too?

[Darkwolf377]

I love that bumpersticker. It makes me laugh because of the simplicity of it—perfect.

[N. Theknow]

Con Law is second-year, I believe.

You don't even need a course in Con Law to know what's written in one of the Founding documents of our Republic.

We learned this in 10th Grade Civics.

On the other hand, I bet this asshat can tell you which earmarks of his were in the "Stimuless" Bill and who his biggest contributors are and how much each of them gives to his campaign.

An empty chair in Congress would be preferable to this dolt.

[albie]

I can’t believe he’d actually admit to not knowing the constitution! That’s like a carnival worker not knowing how to fry dough.

[VAarea]

Constitutional or not, anyone who supports a 90% tax on ANYTHING does not belong in the Republican party.

[bill1952]

Now, that I know — which I didn't at the time — that this is unconstitutional...

Good Lord - admitting that he was clueless as to the clear meanings of basic Constitutional law?
And he makes law?

[Condor51]

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan:
"Now, that I know — which I didn't at the time — that this is unconstitutional,...."

Exsqeeze me? You "didn't know". Then why did you take that little oath thingy?
How can you protect and defend something you admittedly know nothing about?

You need to resign -- yesterday!

[Tupelo]

And some out there wonder why people like me distrust our overlords in Washington.
Cannot this goof read? Every library in the free world(well, maybe not Wisconsin) has a copy of the United States Constitution. If he is a lawyer as most in Congress now are, he should be disbarred.

[Ahithophel]

Boy, no kidding. That thing he swore to uphold and defend, says in Article I, section 9, clause 3: no bills of attainder. Doesn’t take a lawyer to read and understand the U.S. Constitution, but how many elected representatives does it take? One, but s/he has to want to read it.

[carcraft]

I am not a constitutional lawyer, took one law course in college and I know I am not real bright BUT I knew you can not pass expostfacto laws and found out about bills of attainment. These guys are really clowns. The thing that scares me is that they pass laws that bear their fruit years and years later like the Carter reinvestment act.

[CPOSharky]

Everybody who thinks that a retoactive law targeting a specific group is legal, raise your hands.

All you socialist freaks, you with your hands raised, leave the room.

[KansasGirl]

Wll, duh. I’m no legal scholar but I knew it was unConstitutional. Of course, so is 95% of the other crap Congress does daily.

[Don Corleone]

How the hell did you not know? How did every bone in your body NOT scream

YOU DIDN'T KNOW...BUT MILLIONS OF THE GREAT UNWASHED OUT HERE IN THE HINTERLANDS KNEW! BS!

[Rockitz]

You saw it here first!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2209871/posts?page=250#250

[KansasGirl]

Yes, but sadly not nearly enough of the sheep know, AND that is what Congress is banking on.

[gargoyle]

...A moron among bovine idiots...

[Ahithophel]

Boy, no kidding. That thing he swore to uphold and defend, says in Article I, section 9, clause 3: no bills of attainder. Doesn’t take a lawyer to read and understand the U.S. Constitution, but how many elected representatives does it take? One, but s/he has to want to read it.

[mylife]

Can we get some reps with a spine?

These people are all over the map.