BOSTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Scott Brown is praising Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s vice presidential nominee, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, for being a “hard worker.”

Brown credited Ryan, who chairs the House of Representatives’ Budget Committee, with bringing economic issues to the forefront of discussion in Washington.

He told reporters Wednesday that Ryan’s work on the budget comes at a time when lawmakers need to “get a handle” on the country’s financial issues.

Democrats are hoping Ryan’s budget proposals, including his plans to transform Medicare into a voucher system and re-shape the nation’s tax system, could weaken Brown’s support. The Massachusetts Republican has voted against Ryan’s budget plan twice

Earlier this week Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren tried to tie Brown to Ryan’s economic plan through his support for Romney.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.