WASHINGTON - Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan says he never asked the federal government for stimulus money.

But three years ago, he sent formal requests to the Energy Department asking for more than $20 million in funds for Wisconsin companies.

In an interview with Cincinnati's WCPO-TV on Thursday, Ryan again denied asking for the stimulus cash.

In a newly released recording from an interview two years ago, Ryan tells a Boston radio station that he's not one who votes against something and then writes to the government asking for money.

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