Hoffa Statement on Romney Choice of Paul Ryan

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

The following is a statement by Jim Hoffa, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters:

"By choosing Paul Ryan as his running mate, Mitt Romney is doubling down on his campaign to make the American middle class poorer so the rich can get richer.

"Ryan is the author of a radical budget proposal to cut Social Security and kill Medicare. The Ryan budget gives a $187,000 tax cut to every multi-millionaire and billionaire, but forces seniors to pay as much as $5,900 more for health care. And it cuts 62 percent of programs for low-income workers.

"The Ryan budget has been described as "reverse Robin Hood on steroids." It will increase poverty and inequality more than any other budget in modern times -- and possibly in the history of this great country.

"Romney said the Ryan budget is "an excellent piece of work" and "very much needed." He is wrong. The Romney-Ryan vision is the last thing America needs."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hard-working men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico including more than 75,000 workers in the airline industry. Go to www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO )

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters