Sessions, Bentley laud Romney VP pick

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WALA) - Alabama politicians are commending presidential candidate Mitt Romney on his choice of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate.

Senator Jeff Sessions and Governor Robert Bentley released statements Saturday, praising the Romney camp’s choice, which was announced that morning.

"The selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate was Gov. Romney’s first big decision—and he delivered totally, “ Sessions said.

Bentley believes the duo will “bring fiscal responsibility back to the federal government.”

The newly minted ticket mates campaigned in the swing state of Virginia Saturday afternoon.

“We cannot continue to spend more money than we have. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will help right-size government while preserving the American dream. I look forward to working with their team and seeing them elected this November," Bentley said.

Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, will join Romney on the republican ticket against President Barack Obama in the November election.

Obama’s campaign jumped on the choice, criticizing the Romney/Ryan ticket as harmful to the middle class. The president's team also took a shot at Ryan's record as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.

The Obama campaign says, “The Ryan Plan would end Medicare as we know it.”

“It would replace Medicare’s current guarantee of coverage with a premium-support voucher, raise the age of eligibility from 65 to 67, and reopen the ‘doughnut hole’ in Medicare’s coverage of prescription drugs,” said an email from the Obama campaign.

Still, Sessions, Ryan's congressional counterpart in the Senate Budget Committee, lauded the pick. He commended Ryan on what he called a difficult feat — passing a budget by a large vote in the House.

“I have watched his work with great admiration. His budget, a 10-year financial plan for America, is historic and lays the foundation for an American renaissance,” Sessions said. “ Gov. Romney made a great choice.”