* Greg Hinz reports on Democratic attempts to tie Mitt Romney’s new running mate Paul Ryan to congressional Republicans…

The party’s House campaign committee Tuesday began aiming mass robocalls into several swing Illinois districts, seeking to tar local GOP candidates with the Ryan brush.

For instance, one call being placed in the north suburban 10th says, “Your Congressman, Robert Dold, voted for a budget that would end Medicare, and now the budget’s architect, Paul Ryan, is the Republican candidate for Vice President.

“A nonpartisan analysis showed that Ryan’s budget would raise health care costs for seniors by $6,400. The Tax Policy Center also said the Ryan budget would give people making over $1 million a year an average tax break of $265,000. And Congressman Dold supported all of it.

“That’s just wrong.”

Team Dold replies that the bill in question would “preserve and strengthen” Medicare and allow those over 55 to stay in the current system — though potentially with fewer benefits. Team Dold further notes that the plan originally was drafted by not only Mr. Ryan but Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon.

That’s true. But Mr. Wyden has since backed away from the plan. It’s also true that the Congressional Budget Office concluded that seniors would have to pay more under the proposed system.

* Another robocall script…

Hi. This is Julie calling from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to alert you to a new development about Medicare.

Republican candidate for Congress Jason Plummer supports a budget that would end Medicare and now the budget’s architect, Paul Ryan, is the Republican candidate for Vice President.

A nonpartisan analysis showed that Ryan’s budget would raise health care costs for seniors by $6,400. The Tax Policy Center also said the Ryan budget would give people making over $1 million a year an average tax break of $265,000.

That’s just wrong.

Call Jason Plummer at 855-527-6612 and tell him to stop protecting millionaires at the expense of Medicare and the middle class.

Plummer is debating Democrat Bill Enyart and Green Party candidate Paula Bradshaw tonight at 7 o’clock. Ryan will likely be a big part of this debate. The one-hour forum is sponsored by WSIU Public Broadcasting, the Southern Illinoisan, Belleville News-Democrat, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, and the Jackson County League of Women Voters. You can watch it live at thesouthern.com and bnd.com.

* More Ryan react from Democrat Bill Foster…

“Governor Mitt Romney’s choice of Congressman Paul Ryan, creator of the Republican budget that Congresswoman Biggert voted for that decimated Medicare, left Seniors with a bill of $6,000, and raised taxes on the middle class, all in order to protect tax cuts for corporations and billionaires, just shows how out of touch the Republican party is with ordinary people,” said Bill Foster.

“Congresswoman Biggert called the Ryan budget the best choice for Illinois, but in reality it was the best choice for the most wealthy people and for the corporations that fund her campaigns. The decisions made by Congresswoman Biggert are a clear indication of the direction she and her party have taken, where money and power is rewarded with tax breaks and favorable legislation. America’s economy is at it’s best when the middle class prospers. We need people in Washington who will stand up for middle class families.”

Judy Biggert, the Republican candidate for the 11th Congressional District, released this statement:

“Paul Ryan is an exciting choice for Vice President. He’s a smart, dynamic leader who has never been afraid to roll up his sleeves and dig in to the tough issues. He cares deeply about bringing fiscal sanity to Washington and growth back to our economy. And Americans are ready for strong leaders with the passion and expertise to turn our economy around and get people back to work. Paul Ryan has that, and he brings Midwestern common sense and simple clarity to the debate that will serve him well, especially when it comes to turning back the misleading attacks that he’ll face on the trail. Voters like facts more than attacks, and he’s a guy who can deliver.”

* Related…

* Biggert, Foster clash on blame for state of the country: “You Democrats have never talked about anything that you’re going to do. It’s always what we did wrong and what’s wrong with what we’re going to do,” said Biggert, 74. She also said she preferred to “look to the future,” then contended the housing market collapse began during the Clinton White House through policies that allowed people to buy homes “when they should be renters.”

* IL GOP VIDEO: Democrat Brad Schneider supports Radical ‘Occupy Wall Street’