GUAM’S Republican leaders have mixed reactions to national GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate for vice president.

Gov. Eddie Calvo’s Chief of Staff Franklin P. Arriola said the governor was concerned about the cuts Ryan, the House budget committee chairman, presented in his proposal and how it would affect local families.

“The fiscal climate in the United States is so bad that drastic cuts need to be made. All these cuts will hurt, and any cut will be felt. Representative Ryan recently presented a plan that makes some tough cuts,” Arriola said.

He also referred to Ryan’s plan to cut $800 million from Medicaid and non-Medicare health programs as well as his plan to cut $200 billion in education and employee training. Cuts are also planned at programs for the less fortunate.

“The governor does, however, commend Rep. Ryan for being one of the few voices of fiscal responsibility in Washington. President Obama has grown the deficit by $1 trillion every year he's been in office. The Senate hasn't presented any budget. And frankly, the one agency that oversees us in the Obama administration – the Office of Insular Affairs – really hasn't owned up to its obligations to Guam,” Arriola said.

“That's really disappointing when you consider that this office is supposed to be on our side pushing for things like proper Compact Impact reimbursement. Instead, it's people like Congressmen Ryan and Joe Wilson who are advocating for a strong defense and a China visa waiver program, respectively. I'm confident a President Mitt Romney and a Vice President Paul Ryan will be so much better for America and Guam than the current administration,” he added.

Opposing

Meanwhile, a resolution introduced by Sens. Rory Respicio and Tom Ada has been passed by the Legislature opposing the Ryan cuts because of the impact they would have on the island. Respicio, upon hearing of Ryan’s selection to run with Romney, issued the following statement: "This choice is an alarming one for our senior citizens. Ryan is best known for pushing for cuts in Social Security benefits and Medicare health insurance for the elderly.”

Sen. Aline Yamashita, assistant minority leader, shares the concerns of the impact the cuts may have on the people, especially the 40,000 who receive assistance.

“I would be very cautious as they determine and implement any cost-cutting measures that would affect those in most need. But at the same time, on our island, we’re trying to build opportunities so that we won’t be dependent on assistance programs,” Yamashita said, adding she understands why Romney would choose Ryan.

“I can see how that partnership can work very well,” Yamashita said.

For his part, congressional delegate candidate and minority leader Sen. Frank Blas Jr. is glad to see Romney has chosen a running mate, but admits he has concerns over some of the provisions of Ryan’s budget plan.

“But I believe there’s a discussion out there and at least there’s something we can look at,” he said. “I’m just glad we can move forward.”