Paul Ryan Packs 'Em In At Oak Creek Town Hall

Updated 5:15 p.m. Thursday.

An overflow crowd listened to U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan lay out his plan to fix the country's financial problems in an Oak Creek town hall Thursday afternoon. 

Ryan spoke in the municipal courtroom at the Oak Creek Police Department, a space which turned out not to be big enough to accommodate the huge crowd that showed up.

Many people were turned away at the door, and police eventually closed the driveway to the station. Others stood in the hallway outside the courtroom and struggled to hear what the Congressman said.

Ryan has held several town halls in the last few days, and some were moved to bigger venues because of the crowds.

The largely-elderly crowd seemed mostly friendly toward Ryan. Many gave him a standing ovation when the meeting was over, though there were scattered boos, as well.

Arden Degner, never wont to stay away from a government meeting in Oak Creek, was in the front row for Ryan's presentation.

"It's interesting to have a congressman who is really on top of everything," he said afterward.

Ryan began the meeting with a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation on his budget proposal, warning about the nation's debt ceiling and touting anti-tax and anti-spending themes.

He then took questions, which centered on elements of his budget plan, such as Social Security and Medicare. One audience member criticized Ryan's votes for wars, which the man said contributed to the debt problem Ryan bemoaned earlier in the meeting.

One the biggest rounds of applause was for a rather bipartisan answer: when asked how the nation got in dire financial straits, Ryan responded that "politicians" made promises that weren't kept. 

Unlike town halls held in other cities, no protesters were outside. Inside, signs were not allowed.

Earlier in the day, Police Chief John Edwards after protesters surrounded Ryan's car in Kenosha. No incidents occurred Thursday afternoon. 

This story will be updated throughout the afternoon.