Nevada delegation reacts to Romney's selection of Ryan

Sen. Dean Heller and Rep. Mark Amodei - both Republicans - praised Mitt Romney's decision to tap Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate, describing him as knowledgeable and a man of convictions.

But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the choice is clear evidence Romney "has doubled down on his commitment to gut Social Security and end Medicare as we know it."

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., Heller's opponent in this year's Senate race, joined Reid in criticizing the choice.

But all said the selection gives voters a clear choice in November.

"It solidifies the base for all those folks who were wondering what kind of a guy Romney is," Amodei said.

"Romney's choice demonstrates that catering to the Tea Party and the far-right is more important to him than standing up for the middle class," Reid said in a release.

Heller said during his time working with Ryan, "I came to respect him as an incredible thinker and a tireless worker as well as a friend."

Amodei said whether people agree with Ryan or not, "he is one of the most knowledgeable people about the budget there is."

He described Ryan as not only very knowledgeable but an "intense and sincere communicator "who can get his point across clearly.

"I'm anxious to see him and (Vice President) Joe Biden go at it," said Amodei. "If it's about facts and sincerity, this guy's top of the line."

"Paul Ryan not only has the courage to make the tough decisions needed to restore our nation's fiscal health, he is also a man of convictions who will not back down from the difficult challenges facing our country," said Heller in a statement.

Ryan's budget plan would make sweeping changes to Medicaid and Medicare as well as Social Security that Democrats have charged gut those programs. The Ryan plan does not include tax increases.

Reid said that is dramatically different from the Democratic plan, which he termed "a balanced approach that combines smart spending with asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share."

"The Ryan budget plan essentially ends Medicare by turning it over to private insurance companies" said Berkley in a release. "Under this plan, Nevada seniors would see their health care premiums rise by $6,000 and would pay $15 million more in prescription drugs costs this year alone."

"The Democrats in the Senate look forward to engaging in that debate," said Reid.