E xcerpts from reactions by prominent Florida Republicans and Democrats to the selection of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as the Republian candidate for vice president:

I applaud Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate. Congressman Ryan’s command of economic policy and the federal budget will prove invaluable as Gov. Romney fights to reform government, accelerate job growth and rein in the out-of-control spending that has been a hallmark of President Obama’s years in office. This courageous choice is the type of leadership American voters deserve. And, I believe it will ensure a victory for the Romney-Ryan ticket this November.

Jeb Bush

[Rep. Ryan’s] tried and failed trickle-down economics scheme is familiar and troubling: cuts to education and other job-creating initiatives, ending Medicare as we know it and saddling our seniors with the bill, all to pay for more tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. And I can say, with no doubt, middle-class families and seniors in my home state of Florida want no part of a Romney-Ryan economic scheme that puts millionaires ahead of Medicare and throws the middle class under the bus to give more tax breaks to the wealthy.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Throughout his life, Mitt Romney has made great decisions, and choosing Paul Ryan as his running mate is a truly inspired choice. I got to know Paul during my Senate campaign when he endorsed me early on when I was still considered a long shot. Paul Ryan is a courageous reformer who understands our nation’s challenges, has proposed bold policy solutions to solve them, and has shown the courage to stand up to President Obama and other Washington politicians trying to tear him down.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio

Both Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney support trillions in budget-busting tax cuts for millionaires paid for with tax hikes on the middle class and deep cuts in education and other investments we need to grow our economy. Both Romney and Ryan share a vision for America where the wealthiest few are prioritized over the middle class, students and seniors — that’s not a vision which will move our state or country forward, and it is a vision which Floridians will whole-heartedly reject.

Rod Smith, Florida Democratic Party chairman

President Romney and Vice President Ryan will put our nation back on a course of economic freedom and equality of opportunity for all Americans. The combination of Mitt Romney’s successful record in business and government, and Paul Ryan’s legislative experience and willingness to lead on pressing fiscal problems is just the recipe to get America back on the right path. President Mitt Romney and Vice President Paul Ryan are what we need to begin restoring the greatness of our constitutional republic.

U.S. Rep. Allen West, Republican

Forcing middle class families and seniors to weather massive cuts just to finance new trillion dollar tax cuts for the wealthy is anything but brave. The retirees who rely on Medicare for their health and financial security, the families who deserve a government that invests in their future, and the workers who will pay higher taxes under the Romney-Ryan plan are not Democrats or Republicans. They are Americans, and in this make-or-break moment for our economy, they will not stand for a misguided ideological crusade.

U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, Democrat