Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, whose Republican conference endorsed Mitt Romney’s presidential candidacy early on in the cycle, praised the selection of Rep. Paul Ryan to be the vice-presidential running mate.

“I congratulate Mitt Romney on making a wise choice in selecting Paul Ryan to be his running mate.

Like Senate Republicans here in New York, Paul Ryan knows that budgets are balanced by reducing spending, not raising taxes and fees, or pushing taxpayers deeper into debt. He will be an able partner in a Romney administration, whether it’s helping to get the economy moving again or ensuring that government is functional and accountable to all the people.

These are serious times, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for middle-class families. I welcome Paul Ryan to the race, and am confident that by cutting taxes and empowering the private sector we can build on the progress we’ve made in New York and change the direction of this country for the better.”

Update: A statement from Senate Minority Leader John Sampson takes the opposite view.

It’s not surprising the Senate Republican Conference is happy about the pick of Tea Party favorite and right wing extremist Paul Ryan as Vice President. Just like Ryan and Romney the Senate Republicans oppose raising the minimum wage, oppose women’s rights and oppose common sense gun control measures. We agree with Governor Cuomo that an extreme right wing agenda has no place in New York.