Rep. Ryan answers Catholic critics - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan says his Catholic faith helps guide him on a daily basis, including his work to reduce federal spending and the growing government debt.

His remarks at Georgetown University in Washington follow a letter from faculty members at the Jesuit-run school, criticizing his 2013 budget blueprint as neglecting the poor while giving tax breaks to the wealthy.

In his speech, the Republican lawmaker defended his approach as being in line with Catholic teaching, with a plan to help the nation's poor rise out of poverty. He blamed President Barack Obama for what he calls "failed economic policies that have driven poverty rates to record highs," and said the resulting debt "has made America poorer.'

Ryan dodged a question about whether he would consider being Mitt Romney's running mate, saying that he has an important job and that he's "content with it right now."