Ryan called stimulus wasteful, then sought funds

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan has been one of the harshest critics of President Barack Obama’s economic- stimulus plan. But months after Congress approved the nearly $800 billion package, the Wisconsin lawmaker was trying to steer money under the program to companies in his home state.

Rep. Ryan wrote letters in 2009 to Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis seeking stimulus grant money for two Wisconsin energy- conservation companies. One of them, the nonprofit Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp., later received $20.3 million from the Energy Department to help homes and businesses improve energy efficiency, according to federal records.

In a letter to Chu in December 2009, Ryan said the stimulus money would help his state create thousands of new jobs, save energy and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. That contrasted with his public statements denigrating the stimulus program as a “wasteful spending spree.” It also conflicts with his larger federal budget proposal, which would slash Energy Department programs aimed at creating green jobs.

A Ryan spokesman, Brendan Buck, noted the congressman’s office’s previous explanations that he was “providing a legitimate constituent service.”