Ryan raises $375,000 in 3 months; has $1,283,004

Congressman Paul Ryan continues to pile money into his campaign chest.

Rep. Ryan, R-WI, 1st District, reported today having $1,283,004 in his campaign fund. He collected $375,000 in the past three months. (Last year's Ryan challenger, Democrat Marge Krupp, raised a total of $126,894 before the election, and now reports a debt of $5,570.)

Ryan, serving his sixth term, says 95% of his "individual contributor" donations come from Wisconsin, and 82% of his donors contributed $100 or less. Ryan says he has added more than 2,000 new donors in the past 12 months.

Looking over his latest FEC report, we see a veritable Who's Who of Racine's top business leaders supporting Ryan. Among the easily recognized names and their donations from the past three months are:

Craig Leipold, $500, married to Helen Johnson-Leipold
Jerry Franke, $500, Wispark
Fred Young, $500, Young Radiator
Alan Ruud, $500, Ruud Lighting
Michael Batten, $500, Twin Disc
Russell Weyers, $500, Johnson Financial
H. Fisk Johnson, $500, SC Johnson
David Eberle, $500, Norco Mfg.
Jim Eastman, $500, Merchants Moving
Ken Buser, $500, All Saints

In a statement Ryan issued with his campaign finance report, he says:

“Out of touch politicians in Washington think they can tax, spend and borrow beyond our means to solve every problem. Wisconsinites know better and are supporting my efforts to stop across the board tax increases, runaway government spending and unsustainable borrowing.

“Supporters of the common sense solutions I’ve proposed want to share my message with all voters. We need to keep jobs in America, guarantee access to health insurance, simplify our tax code and improve Social Security and Medicare.

“We need to stop pushing our jobs overseas. Having the second highest corporate tax rate in the world make it harder for businesses to keep jobs in the U.S. We can provide everyone with health care coverage if we allocate the $2.4 trillion a year we currently spend on health care more wisely. And, we must change our confusing and unfair tax code, so that it rewards saving, investing and job creation.

“I believing in practicing principled representation, which means saying what you are going to do and then doing it. My number one priority is looking out for the best interests of everyone I was elected to serve in Wisconsin. I am grateful for the out pouring of support I have received from people in all walks of life—working men and women, small business owners, unions and seniors. They are my employers and I never forget that.

“Those who oppose my reform efforts will accuse me of obstructing their attempts to put more power, money and decision making under the control of the federal government. The voters of Wisconsin are demanding alternatives to the path we are on as a country. Their donations are a clear indication that they support the solutions I am offering and that they want me to have the means to promote the work I am doing for them.”