We asked Sen. Ben Nelson (D., Neb.) for his thoughts on Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.), who delivered the Republican response to President Obama’s speech tonight.
“Congressman Ryan has his own ideas,” he tells us. “That’s in House, and I don’t think the Senate is focused on what they’re doing in the House yet. I’m not opposed to looking at [Ryan’s ideas], I just haven’t had the opportunity.”
We followed up to see what Nelson thought about the need for entitlement reform, and if he thought the president did enough to address the issue in his speech. Nelson equivocated.
“This was not a speech for the president to lay out details on entitlement reform,” he said. “But the fact that he mentioned it, and didn’t do it in hushing tones, to me says that he understands that this is what we need to do. We can’t cut our way out of the problem we’re in with just discretionary [spending].”