Romney campaign hiring congressional aides

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WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has been hiring campaign workers from congressional Republican staff, officials said.

Romney's legislative affairs team has quietly been hiring aides to Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Roll Call reported.

The newspaper said the hires were a sign of willingness to work with staff members tied to leaders of the conservative movement.

The Romney campaign also hired several budget experts, seen as a pre-emptive defense against Democratic opponents of Sen. Ryan's 2013 fiscal plan, which would trim spending by $5.3 trillion across most domestic programs.

Ryan appeared with Romney at a campaign event Monday in Janesville, Wis., calling Romney a "bedrock of principles" and a "moral compass." Ryan is considered to be a front-runner in Romney's vice presidential selection.