(CNN) - As Mitt Romney unveils Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate, questions over the House Budget Committee chairman's budget plan will likely become a hot button debate topic this fall.
Romney announced Ryan as the vice presidential candidate at a campaign event while kicking off a bus tour Saturday morning in Norfolk, Virginia.
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First put forward in 2011, the so-called Ryan Plan is a $3.5 trillion budget that would lower tax rates and cut spending, while reforming the Medicare and Medicaid government-run health care programs for senior citizens, the disabled and the poor.
READ MORE: Democratic attacks on Ryan focus on changes to Medicare and Medicaid
The budget has drawn fierce criticism from the left, particularly President Barack Obama, as Democrats claim the plan is too heavy on entitlement cuts. While the measure passed the Republican controlled House of Representatives in both 2011 and 2012, it failed to pass last year in the Democratic-controlled Senate and has no chance of making its way through the chamber this year.
But what has Romney said about the proposed GOP budget?
The presumptive GOP nominee has stood by the popular Republican plan but does not mention it as a frequent talking point. In the past, he has described the plan as "bold and exciting" and applauds it as an "excellent piece of work," one that he compares to his own economic proposals.
While appearing with the Wisconsin congressman at a Milwaukee campaign event in April, Romney said Ryan's plans on the tax code "are very similar to my own." And when the House passed the plan in March, Romney released a statement calling the bill "progress."
"Owing in no small part to the leadership of Paul Ryan, (the House) has put conservative fiscal principles into action and passed a bold budget that directly addresses the drivers of our nation's spending crisis," the statement read. "The House budget and my own plan share the same path forward: pro-growth tax cuts, getting federal spending under control and strengthening entitlement programs for future generations."
READ MORE: Romney camp prepares Medicare defense after Ryan pick
Also in March, the candidate said in a tele-town hall with Wisconsin voters that he thinks the legislation should become law.
"I think it'd be marvelous if the Senate were to pick up Paul Ryan's budget and to adopt it and pass it along to the president," Romney said.
In early April, President Barack Obama mocked Romney for using the word "marvelous."
"He said that he's very supportive of this new budget and he even called it marvelous, which is a word you don't often hear when it comes to describing a budget," Obama said.
Romney also brought up the budget at a GOP presidential debate shortly before the South Carolina primary in January, which he lost to opponent Newt Gingrich.
Romney said he would lay out a Medicare-like program that "allows people to buy either current standard Medicare or a private plan."
"And this is the proposal which Congressman Paul Ryan has adopted," Romney said, according to a transcript of the debate. "It's a proposal which I believe is absolutely right on."
In terms of the election, a CNN/ORC International poll released last month indicated that 39% of Americans view Medicare and Social Security as an "extremely important" issue, with more respondents saying the economy, health care, education, terrorism and the deficit rank higher on a list of issues.
A majority of Americans–57%–said in May that they oppose a Republican plan to change Medicare (similar to that of Ryan), while 34% said that are in favor of such a plan, according to a separate CNN/ORC International survey.
Last November, a majority of Americans–51%–said they opposed major changes in the two entitlement programs, while 41% are in favor of changes.
– CNN's Gregory Wallace and Tom Cohen contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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Stocks in Purina Cat Chow will probably skyrocket with the anticipation of the ending of Social Security and Medicare.
I suppose this goes to show how far out of the mainstream the Republican party has become and why they are loosing so many of us. The Ryan plan significantly alters our safety net which generations of Americans have relied upon. It presents a picture of a future where only the rich have an American dream. Shame on the GOP for putting forth the absolute worst pick for VP.
Paul Ryan on the ticket is like calling a doctor after the patient has been dead for a week..
I can't wait to hear all the older Americans who rely on Medicare, talk about how much they like Paul Ryan. The man that wants to cut their benefits while helping out those whom need no help. Faux news and the Republican party have these people so brainwashed it's sad.
Like the birthers, Mitt and Paul make it sounds like ONLY the GOP own morality & patriotism!
once again republicains are proving that they are the true DEATH PANELS. they want to go back to how it was during the great depression with old people starving in the streets.
ITT Watch the liberals squirm.
I hope all of you who vote for this clown are looking forward to the health insurance people taking your lousy vouchers.
Only in America would we find such ridiculous idea gain traction.
Well anyone who votes for these two clowns deserves everything they get from doing so. Put them in office and the USA is done for.
Well from a Liberal I congratulate John Ryan for becoming the V.P. for Romney's campaign, but I realize that I will not vote for him due to the fact the Tea Party extremists have hijacked the Republican Party. Should have went with Huntsman Republicans. That was definite Republican that I would have voted for.
Remember the movie soilent green, that what Paul Ryans policies will bring about
This was about as "brilliant" as the Palin mistake. My own grandmother gave up her GOP card on this one! For me, I'm thrilled. Obama 2012!
I'm 68 years old and on medicare and SS. Paul Ryan is a great choice for VP because he will clean up this disaster that the Dems, with the help of the Bushes, have made of this country over the past 25 years. I'm not at all like your typical Dem. I can actually think ! I looked after my mom and dad until they died and didn't stick 'em in a state funded home like the worthless Dems do. I also am worried that my kids and grandkids will have miserable lives thanks to the Dems, who generally don't know who their kids are. I just hope to live long enough to see Ryan as President.
dbrown: brilliant comment!
Looks like Mittens has caved again to the far far far right of his party.
As for the question "Where Does Romney Stand on the Ryan Plan?" : wherever the Koch brothers tell him too. Romney is apparently just supposed to be the warm body that can hold a pen.
And Romney followers have been getting on President Obama's case for "pandering" to the electorate? Hey, Mitt, the only thing worse than the fact that your pick of Ryan is a complete pander to the "tea-party folks" would be the possibility that you might actually BELIEVE Ryan's fairy tales about "saving" Social Security and Medicare.
I'm not saying that picking Ryan was "wrong", if what you're hoping for is a GOP victory in November. I'm just saying it's WRONG if what you want is a more prosperous and equitable future for all the American people. Good luck with that.
Paul Ryan is Twito's Sarah Palin. If he hasn't yet figured out that cutting Medicare is a death wish, he sure will now.
How many signs have we seen at Tea Party events that say "Keep your hands off my Medicare"? I love the steady stream of "moral dilemas" the GOP keeps putting the conservative base in. How can they, particularly seniors, support this choice while still protecting what's in their own best interests?
Are Romney and Ryan Grover Norquist lackeys?
Ryan's a punk, no more or less. Twitto has now sealed his coffin.
How do I get a work visa in Canada? Paul Ryan scares the heck out of me.
In response to onlyfacts61, not all of the seniors are fooled by these fools (Romeny and now Ryan). This is the best thing that could have happened to the Democrats for this election and possibly even more elections after this one. The seniors are the largest single portion of the population right now and will be for some time to come. Yes, there are some of us who are on a different learning curve that is about to be "straightened out" with gusto. Most of the die in the wool senior Republicans I know are getting their minds changed little by little. Others have decided not to vote at all. Now the gloves come off! Now, the truth can flow freely. Now, we know where Romney is going to stand.....directly behind Ryan. That is NOT the place most of us over 60 want to be......with retirements stolen....insurance gone with our "pre-existing conditions clauses.....more of our Social Security money going to taxes ...while the rich get richer.....likely another war or two....and then reduced to DOG FOOD too, which BTW, is going up at the checkout counter too! You just watch President Obama's ratings go even higher now! Watch those red states turn blue. It will be the seniors getting their dander up!
does romney actually stand for anything? he seems to be on both sides of most issues.
for all the republicans, least this election has another republican running. Johnson/Gray starting to look better.
Another over the top Sarah Palin pick – we just won the election.
Watching the Romney's presentation of his v.p. P.Ryan. There is a missing of people of color,( part of middle class worker) probably the camera man discriminates. Is Romney really speaking for them too?