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As Speaker of the House, Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) is often quick to defend his party's policies.
On Friday, he took to Twitter to praise Republican economic policies. It didn't go quite as planned.
Ryan tweeted:
By measure after measure, the American economy is #BetterOffNow: ✔ Worker pay is rising at its highest rate in 10 y… https://t.co/3Qfhj72rX5— Paul Ryan (@Paul Ryan) 1533924783.0
Possibly to deflect from a growing sea of social atrocities like family separation and Russian appeasement, Republicans frequently tout the so-called economic improvements happening under their leadership, championing the falling unemployment rate (a trend which began with President Barack Obama) and claiming, as Ryan did, that worker pay is rising. Their claims, however, tend to be misleading.
It wasn't long before people on social media corrected Ryan.
They pointed out that, adjusted for inflation, wages are actually plateauing.
@SpeakerRyan 1. Inflation is rising at a level that wage gains r virtually zero. 2. Optimism does not pay bills 3.… https://t.co/gRVwDAn2xY— Dave Agar (@Dave Agar) 1533925153.0
@SpeakerRyan @SusanWBrooks U.S. workers' paychecks are worth less than they were a year ago, the Labor Department… https://t.co/tCWlw6zzWl— John J Brase (@John J Brase) 1533932768.0
@SpeakerRyan #NotBetterOffNow Teachers work hard their pay is not rising! In fact most teachers salaries are frozen… https://t.co/lZelIFG5zm— Kay Dotson (@Kay Dotson) 1533926735.0
What's more, they came with receipts.
@SpeakerRyan According to White House tweet, the economy and job market has been surging for the last 94 months. S… https://t.co/oOaHZlhP6u— Charlie (@Charlie) 1533928486.0
@SpeakerRyan Your lying is nowhere near Trumpian levels but you are consistent. https://t.co/ep002KeolN— Jim Tilia (@Jim Tilia) 1533936880.0
@SpeakerRyan What a surprise - wages are rising the most for top earners while the middle class remains flat. https://t.co/4wuwQ37HZW— Catherine Boerner (@Catherine Boerner) 1533930138.0
@SpeakerRyan #Liar https://t.co/XVo7JP1qkR— mary carlson (@mary carlson) 1533926911.0
And, for many, modest economic growth did nothing to negate other Republican policies.
@SpeakerRyan @HouseGOP However, our democracy is in the most danger since the Depression. Massive tax cuts for the… https://t.co/HBLIiqgLAM— StratFan57 (@StratFan57) 1533928615.0
@SpeakerRyan Sir, if we are to believe you that’s good news. Actually The difference between our economy now and th… https://t.co/GVmrRdV0QK— Paul Adams (@Paul Adams) 1533664407.0
@SpeakerRyan By measure after measure, the American economy is #GOPsOnlyTalkingPoint: ✔ The oceans are rising at th… https://t.co/S0ilW93waA— Dabney Coleman's Ghost (@Dabney Coleman's Ghost) 1533935132.0
Republicans have undoubtedly taken steps on economic issues, but the direction in which those steps are taking the country remains debatable.
The most sweeping changes made by Republicans to the economy came with the passing of their tax bill last year.
The bill increased tax cuts for those making over 500,000 dollars per year and slashed corporate tax rates from 35 to 21 percent. While Republicans insisted it would lead to an economic surge, economists expect the improvements will be modest.
The bill was met with opposition from Democrats. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said the bill
is simply theft — monumental, brazen theft from the American middle class and from every person who aspires to reach it.
In the end, the tax bill is estimated to cost over two trillion dollars. Now, the federal debt is poised to rise to its highest level since World War II.
Americans haven't forgotten its impact.
Deficit up 20% under GOP after: 1. GOP tax law 2. Largest spending bill in the history of America 3. Biggest budge… https://t.co/KelAruo9fj— Joe Scarborough (@Joe Scarborough) 1533773883.0
The GOP tax bill was a trillion dollar grift at our expense—a robbery of historic proportions. They said we don’t… https://t.co/mxxZCdy186— Matthew Ribel (@Matthew Ribel) 1533933613.0
“Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-16) - a member of the Ways and Means Committee that wrote the tax cut bill, and… https://t.co/miXXrkzVLt— Mark Frost (@Mark Frost) 1533933369.0
Because Ryan is retiring at the end of his term, the tax bill he championed and the so-called improvements he touts are likely to be the brunt of his legacy. With so many Americans dissatisfied at wage growth and increasing tax cuts for the rich, one wonders if his efforts were worth it.