Ryan: Senate Decision This Week

The Hill reports:

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will announce sometime this week whether he plans to run to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.).

The House Budget Committee chairman's name was quickly passed around as a potential candidate when Kohl announced his retirement Friday, but he said Sunday he had reached no decision yet.

"It was a bit a surprise to all of us," he said on CNN's "State of the Union." "We just started digesting this."

However, he added that he would announce whether he will run soon, responding in the affirmative when asked if he would announce sometime this week.

"I plan on making an announcement very quickly," he said. "But we're just beginning this process."

Ryan also supported the marker laid down by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on the debt limit debate. Boehner said in a Monday speech that any increase to the debt limit should be accompanied by at least an equal amount in spending cuts. The Treasury Department has reportedly asked Congress to approve a $2 trillion hike.