Paul Ryan to Marco Rubio: "Read the deal and get back to me"

The budget deal's co-author shrugs off his potential 2016 rival's criticism

Published December 12, 2013 3:08PM (EST)

  (AP/Madalyn Ruggiero)
(AP/Madalyn Ruggiero)

Appearing on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Thursday, Rep. Paul Ryan had a rather terse response to Sen. Marco Rubio's criticism of his proposed budget plan: "Read the deal and get back to me."

“People are going to do what they need to do," Ryan continued, perhaps making an oblique reference to Rubio positioning himself for 2016. "In the minority, you don’t have the burden of governing, of getting things done."

“If you’re in the minority, you don’t have to pass things. You don’t have to govern,” Ryan said.  He went on to frame his plan as a protection against another politically damaging government shutdown, saying, “We are in the majority here in the House. We’re one-third of the so-called power structure here in Washington, and we think it would be a bad idea to have two government shutdown scenarios in 2014.”

Ryan was responding to Rubio's earlier criticism of the Ryan-Murray budget deal. In a statement, the Florida senator said that he could not support the deal. "We need a government with less debt and an economy with more good-paying jobs," Rubio said, "and this budget fails to accomplish both goals, making it harder for more Americans to achieve the American dream."

Ryan questioned whether Rubio and other critics of the deal had even bothered to read it.

“I thought it was a little strange, because the press releases came flying out against the agreement before [Sen. Murray] and I actually even reached an agreement,” Ryan said. “This is Washington. I would prefer that people would actually read what we’re doing and see the details before forming conclusions, but I’m a big boy, I’ve been around for awhile, it doesn’t really necessarily surprise me.”


By Elias Isquith

Elias Isquith is a former Salon staff writer.

MORE FROM Elias Isquith


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Marco Rubio Morning Joe Msnbc Patty Murray Paul Ryan Politico