* Democratic Congressman Bill Enyart and GOP state Rep. Mike Bost debated last night in southern Illinois…

The debate got heated when Enyart said Bost supported Republican Paul Ryan’s budget.

“I never said I supported Paul Ryan’s budget. That is a lie,” Bost said.

* The full quote is at about the 20:50 mark in the debate video…

* Transcript…

“In the words of Ronald Reagan, ‘There you go again.’

“You did the same thing to Jason Plummer, but you’re not going to do it to me. I never said I supported the Ryan budget, and that is a lie.”

* The Democrats, however, point to Bost’s Facebook page, where he slams Enyart for not being sufficiently pro-coal. Included in that criticism is this…

The second bullet point is the important one, the Democrats say, because that rollcall is the Paul Ryan budget. So, while Bost didn’t exactly say that he supported the Ryan proposal, he slammed Enyart for voting against it because it would’ve been good for Illinois coal.

Bost also skipped an AARP debate to campaign with Ryan, the Democrats point out.

* Meanwhile, from the same debate…

At another point during the debate, Bost said Enyart was appointed general of the Illinois National Guard by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

“Governor Blagojevich did not make me a general,” Enyart responded. He said he was selected by a board of generals and nominated by U.S. President George W. Bush.

* Um, from an August 31, 2007 press release…

Gov. Blagojevich appoints Brigadier General William L. Enyart as 37th Adjutant General; will lead Illinois Department of Military Affairs

SPRINGFIELD- Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today named Brigadier General William L. Enyart as the new 37th Adjutant General of Illinois. Enyart will command more than 13,000 Soldiers and Airmen of the Illinois National Guard. He will also serve as the Governor’s principal advisor on military matters and function as the director of the Department of Military Affairs. Enyart will assume command from Maj. Gen. Randal E. Thomas, who retires in September.

“General Enyart brings a wealth of military and civilian experience to the Illinois National Guard. He has served in the Illinois Army National Guard for more than 30 years in a wide variety of positions. Major General Randy Thomas performed an outstanding service to the Illinois National Guard, and I’m sure General Enyart will build upon that record, bringing leadership and vision to help the Illinois Army National Guard better serve and protect our state,” said. Gov. Blagojevich.

He can’t run away from that one.

…Adding… The Democrats point out Bost actually claimed that Blagojevich made Enyart a general, which, they say is not true. In that case, it was a botched Bost hit.