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In Rep. Paul Ryan’s home territory, conflict over his budget

The House Budget Committee chairman’s listening sessions in his Wisconsin district drew large crowds that booed and cheered as Ryan explained his budget, which was recently passed by the House and would attempt to rein in the deficit through a slew of cuts. And in the middle of the commotion sat one man, quietly conflicted, with a question.

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April 19, 2011

Worried Wisconsin constituents such as Lee Schubert, right, ask questions of Rep. Paul Ryan, left, at the House Budget Committee chairman's listening session in Elkhorn, Wis. Ryan is the author of the Republicans' 2012 budget plan, which among other things would minimize popular entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid in an attempt to bring down the deficit.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Constituents listen to Ryan during a session in Janesville, Wis. Ryan touts his budget as the “Path to Prosperity,” but some speakers referred to it as the “Road to Ruin.”

April 19, 2011

Constituents listen to Ryan during a session in Janesville, Wis. Ryan touts his budget as the “Path to Prosperity,” but some speakers referred to it as the “Road to Ruin.”

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

There was no shortage of hands held in the air on Ryan's listening tour as constituents waited to ask the congressman questions, such as in this meeting in Janesville.

April 19, 2011

There was no shortage of hands held in the air on Ryan's listening tour as constituents waited to ask the congressman questions, such as in this meeting in Janesville.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Pam Smith asks Ryan a question during a listening session in Milton, Wis.

April 19, 2011

Pam Smith asks Ryan a question during a listening session in Milton, Wis.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Farmer Gerald Bedwell listens to Ryan at the listening session in Milton. Ryan called the choice of whether to rein in the budget 'our generation’s defining moment.'

April 19, 2011

Farmer Gerald Bedwell listens to Ryan at the listening session in Milton. Ryan called the choice of whether to rein in the budget "our generation’s defining moment."

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Constituents crowd a Ryan listening session in Delavan, Wis. The community meetings were designed to be small, but none of them turned out to be.

April 19, 2011

Constituents crowd a Ryan listening session in Delavan, Wis. The community meetings were designed to be small, but none of them turned out to be.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

University of Wisconsin at Whitewater professor Jo Ann Oravec asks a question of Ryan at the Elkhorn listening session.

April 19, 2011

University of Wisconsin at Whitewater professor Jo Ann Oravec asks a question of Ryan at the Elkhorn listening session.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Ryan speaks about the the budget choices facing the country. “We are heading for disaster in America,” he said.

April 19, 2011

Ryan speaks about the the budget choices facing the country. “We are heading for disaster in America,” he said.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Worried Wisconsin constituents listen to Ryan at the session in Milton. “Why doesn’t anybody in Washington tell us the truth?” a man demanded at one of the sessions.

April 19, 2011

Worried Wisconsin constituents listen to Ryan at the session in Milton. “Why doesn’t anybody in Washington tell us the truth?” a man demanded at one of the sessions.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Hesperus Spooner listens to Ryan at the meeting in Delavan. At times, Ryan struggled to maintain control of the restive crowds at the sessions. “Come on, guys,” he said. “Come on, now.”

April 19, 2011

Hesperus Spooner listens to Ryan at the meeting in Delavan. At times, Ryan struggled to maintain control of the restive crowds at the sessions. “Come on, guys,” he said. “Come on, now.”

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

A worried Lee Schubert listens at Ryan's session in Elkhorn.

April 19, 2011

A worried Lee Schubert listens at Ryan's session in Elkhorn.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Disabled Vietnam veteran Clarence Cammers works out early in the morning in his Elkhorn, Wis., home. Cammers attended one of Ryan's sessions and asked a question of the congressman. Saying the budget predicament seems like an impossible choice between a mounting national debt and devastating cutbacks, he explained that he was living on Social Security but that he would be fine. “I guess what I’m saying is, what are all these changes going to mean for my son?” he asked.

April 21, 2011

Disabled Vietnam veteran Clarence Cammers works out early in the morning in his Elkhorn, Wis., home. Cammers attended one of Ryan's sessions and asked a question of the congressman. Saying the budget predicament seems like an impossible choice between a mounting national debt and devastating cutbacks, he explained that he was living on Social Security but that he would be fine. “I guess what I’m saying is, what are all these changes going to mean for my son?” he asked.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Tim Cammers, 32, lives at home with his parents in Elkhorn. He makes $10 an hour working in food prep at a nearby resort, but the bosses cut his hours whenever business is slow. Lately, he has collected part of his income through unemployment. Clarence Cammers, his father, worries about whether assistance will be available for Tim, who has a severe attention-deficit disorder, a preoccupation with video games and little money of his own.

April 20, 2011

Tim Cammers, 32, lives at home with his parents in Elkhorn. He makes $10 an hour working in food prep at a nearby resort, but the bosses cut his hours whenever business is slow. Lately, he has collected part of his income through unemployment. Clarence Cammers, his father, worries about whether assistance will be available for Tim, who has a severe attention-deficit disorder, a preoccupation with video games and little money of his own.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Clarence Cammers does the family laundry in his Elkhorn home. Cammers, a lifelong Republican, says he believes in fiscal discipline -- he has carefully tracked his own budget for 40 years -- but has concerns about Ryan's plan.

April 20, 2011

Clarence Cammers does the family laundry in his Elkhorn home. Cammers, a lifelong Republican, says he believes in fiscal discipline -- he has carefully tracked his own budget for 40 years -- but has concerns about Ryan's plan.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Clarence Cammers talks with his son, Tim. “I feel bad about the country you’re getting,” Clarence told his son.

April 20, 2011

Clarence Cammers talks with his son, Tim. “I feel bad about the country you’re getting,” Clarence told his son.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Gail, Clarence and Tim Cammers have dinner. Gail still works at a small manufacturing company, mostly because her job provides the family with health benefits, while Clarence depends on Social Security checks, because an old knee injury makes it too painful to stand for more than a few minutes. It's a reliance he hates.

April 20, 2011

Gail, Clarence and Tim Cammers have dinner. Gail still works at a small manufacturing company, mostly because her job provides the family with health benefits, while Clarence depends on Social Security checks, because an old knee injury makes it too painful to stand for more than a few minutes. It's a reliance he hates.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

At 32, Tim Cammers has never “flown from the nest,” as his father puts it. His father wonders what safety net will be left for him.

April 20, 2011

At 32, Tim Cammers has never “flown from the nest,” as his father puts it. His father wonders what safety net will be left for him.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

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