AP
It's perhaps more notable for what it doesn't once mention - Obamacare - as what it eventually proposes. The key proposition in Ryan's op-ed is a trade of entitlement reform for repeal of the sequester cuts.
From the op-ed:
For my Democratic colleagues, the discretionary spending levels in the Budget Control Act are a major concern. And the truth is, there's a better way to cut spending. We could provide relief from the discretionary spending levels in the Budget Control Act in exchange for structural reforms to entitlement programs.
Ryan also proposes a few "ideas" - making wealthier Americans pay higher premiums for Medicare, reforming "Medigap" (Medicare supplement) plans to "encourage efficiency" and reduce costs, and asking federal employees to contribute more to their own retirement.
Ryan's entry into the current debate is significant - until now, the former Republican vice presidential nominee had been almost entirely silent.
That said, it's not likely that the White House and President
Moreover, this is a far cry from the debate that has produced the impasse that has incurred a federal
Three times in 10 days leading up to the eventual shutdown, the House inserted language into its version of a continuing resolution that stripped funding for or significantly altered certain portions of Obamacare.
Because of that clear omission, Ryan's op-ed was immediately slammed by conservative groups that have led the "defund" charge. Here's Dan Holler, the communications director for Heritage Action, taking a jab at Ryan on Twitter:
much like White House press, Paul Ryan doesn't mention Obamacare in WSJ oped. #shutdown http://t.co/zo5sI7yk6p
- dan holler (@danholler) October 9, 2013
And it's likely that Ryan's op-ed will face more ire from conservatives who want changes to Obamacare.