Ryan Gets A Little Help From His Friends - 9 Co-Sponsors Sign On To His Budget Roadmap

TPMDC has been searching far and wide for public supporters of Rep. Paul Ryan's "Roadmap" budget blueprint, a measure that Republican leaders insist is Ryan's alone and which grips the political third rail of Social Security and Medicare cuts.

But it turns out Ryan, who says he is willing to lose his job over the plan if it means ending the deficit, isn't as lonely as it may seem.

He has nine Republican friends co-sponsoring the measure, which would effectively privatize Social Security if it becomes law. That's unlikely, and both GOP leaders and Ryan's office say this will not be the Republican budget alternative that gets a floor vote this spring.

But Democrats, sensing a political opportunity reminiscent of the 2005 Social Security fight that hurt the GOP in the polls, say they want to force a vote on the Ryan plan.

Looks like it already has 10 "Yay" votes, counting Ryan (R-WI).

The original co-sponsors are:

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD)
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) - She was just talking about her support for the idea on Fox.
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX)
Rep. John Campbell (R-CA)
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) - He also spoke out in favor of the plan last week
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA)
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)

Secondary co-sponsors:

Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) - signed on Thursday
Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) - signed on Thursday