RYAN: GOP no friend to diplomats

We hear a lot of noise from right wing radio about the tragic killing of our ambassador to Libya. What we don’t hear is that Paul Ryan and the Republican Congress have slashed the budget of the state department and embassy security.

In 2009 Ryan and Issa proposed cutting $1.2 billion from state department. When Republicans took control of the House in 2010 they cut funding for diplomatic by $128 million for 2011 and $331 million for 2012 and proposed $500 million for 2013. Secretary of State Clinton warned, “These cuts will be detrimental to national security.”

When you condemn President Obama for the loss of life in Libya remember who did not provide funding for security. Ryan policy has real life effects and this is one example.

TOM BLASCHKA

Coeur d’Alene