Media Contact: David Roscow, 202-487-4990

Washington, DC - Amalgamated Transit Union International President Larry Hanley released the following statement in reaction to Mitt Romney announcing Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) as his Vice President nominee.

"The choice of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) as his vice presidential nominee cements Mitt Romney is out of touch with the middle class and all working Americans.

"Tea Party extremist Ryan is single handedly trying to dismantle social security and Medicare. He is a Washington gasbag who has produced little in his career except a distorted economic theory which would deliver a death blow to the middle class. His policies are those of a class warrior who would drive most Americans into poverty.

"Romney and Ryan would give wealthy Americans and corporations more tax breaks while continuing to undercut middle class Americans.

"It's now even more clear that a Romney presidency is the wrong choice for America."

About the ATU

The Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labor organization representing transit workers in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1892, the ATU today is comprised of over 190,000 members in 264 local unions spread across 44 states and nine provinces, including 3,000 workers at Greyhound Lines, Inc. Composed of bus drivers, light rail operators, maintenance and clerical personnel and other transit and municipal employees, the ATU works to promote transit issues and fights for the interests of its hard-working members.