I wanted to offer a few thoughts on The Journal Times coverage of a protest held in front of my Racine Constituent Services Center.

On Tuesday, my staff welcomed constituents organized by Voces de la Frontera. As always, I appreciate the active participation from those I serve in the debate over how to enact meaningful immigration reform that both respects the rule of law and affirms the dignity of all human beings. While I continue to engage in a respectful dialogue on this issue, I was struck by both the knowingly false accusations from protestors and the means in which the event was reported by The Journal Times.

First, let's review what I did that caused such strong reaction. On Sept. 14, I agreed to be interviewed to discuss health care with a former Wisconsinite and good friend Mark Reardon, who now works for KMOX in St. Louis. The only time the conversation strayed beyond health care was with respect to how much better the Green Bay Packers are than the St. Louis Rams.

There has been subsequent confusion as to this health care interview and my alleged participation in an immigration rally with an organization called Federation for American Immigration Reform. FAIR invited a number of radio hosts who broadcasted independently from a hotel in Washington, D.C., including KMOX's Mark Reardon. There was no formal immigration rally that I attended. There was no communication or affiliation between FAIR and my office.

We were first made aware of this confusion last week after being contacted by a representative from Voces de la Frontera. We quickly clarified the situation with Voces de la Frontera, and my name was subsequently removed from FAIR's Web site, where it had been incorrectly listed. I was surprised that Voces de la Frontera decided to go forward to protest something that I did not do, but more troubled by the coverage of the event.

On Monday evening, a reporter from The Journal Times sought to contact my office regarding Tuesday's planned protest. Despite our offices being closed for a federal holiday, less than two hours after this initial contact a preview of the protest was posted at www.journaltimes.com, in which the article states that I granted an interview to FAIR, which I did not, and discusses the actions of the founder of FAIR, an individual I've never heard of.

The follow-up stories that ran shortly before and again after the protest, and after I was able to clarify the facts, make it appear as if I expressed regret for taking part in the interview. I cannot distance myself from something that did not occur.

I understand that there are new pressures to break stories and turn things around at a moment's notice. But I'd ask that in the future, The Journal Times makes certain every effort is made to ensure accuracy prior to publication - and once the facts are made clear, that they are expressed in an even-handed manner.

I continue to respect the tremendous efforts of journalists and activists alike in the Racine community, and am hopeful that we can continue to work together to tackle the many serious challenges we face - from health care and immigration reform to the need to get jobs and economic growth back to Southern Wisconsin.

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., represents the 1st Congressional District, which includes part of Racine County.