Paul Ryan: When You Get Knocked Down, 'You Get Back Up...and Fight'

Despite taking his lumps in the November election, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan said Tuesday that he has a "moral obligation" to continue fighting for what he believes in.

"What do you do when you get knocked down?" he asked "You get back up. You pick yourself up, and go back and fight for what you think is right, what you believe in."

Speaking at a town hall meeting at the Oak Creek Community Center, the former Republican vice presidential candidate joked about the outcome of the race.

"Let's just say the election didn't go the way I wanted it to go," he told the crowd of about 180.

Still, Ryan said, he will continue to push for immigration reform, a revamp of the tax system, energy legislation and more.

In an interview with Patch after the 90-minute listening session, Ryan said it felt "relaxing" to go from the national stage of a presidential campaign back to listening sessions, which he has held in his Congressional district for years.

"It's been nice just to get reacquainted with constituents," Ryan said. "A lot of familiar faces, new faces. It's very comfortable to me and it's been very relaxing, and it's just nice to get back to work."

Congressman takes on Obama, Senate

Ryan used the session to contrast his budget proposal with those offered by the U.S. Senate and President Barack Obama, criticizing the plans for increasing taxes and spending.

He also took several questions about Obamacare, the president's health care reform bill.

Despite a Supreme Court ruling upholding the law and the Republicans' loss in the presidential election, Ryan still believes it will be replaced.

"It will collapse under its own weight. I really don't think this law is sustainable, for lots of reasons," Ryan said. "There's a better way of doing this. There's a better way of having affordable access to health care without the cost of a government takeover. We will offer those alternatives."

Ryan also weighed in on the gun legislation debate. He said universal background checks "go beyond where the law ought to go," could lead to a national gun registry and limit Second Amendment rights. He supports background checks for purchases at gun shows and online, but said the proposals offered went too far.

Ryan: 'Meaningful' immigration reform will pass

He also made the case for immigration reform, calling for more border patrol and giving undocumented immigrants a form of probation.

"It's basically an idea to get people to come out of the shadows, to get right with the law, to have an identity that is actually theirs so we (cut) down on identity theft, and put them in the back of the line," behind immigrants in the country legally, he said.

Despite many hurdles it must overcome, Ryan said during an interview he is more confident than ever that meaningful reform can pass.

"I've seen this issue come and go for many years. I feel like this is the best chance I've seen in a long time," Ryan said. "People understand this is a national security and an economic security issue that can't go ignored much longer.

"I feel with all the issues that are out there, this one probably has the best chance of meaningful action."