‘Mini-Revolt’ Confronts Republicans As They Ready Cuts

As House Republicans parry Democratic criticism that they’ve gone too far with proposed spending cuts, they confront a battle within their own ranks over whether the cuts go far enough.

A faction of House Republicans plans to continue pushing for bigger budget savings than party leaders recommended last week, reductions that Democrats argue would harm the U.S. economic recovery.

Republicans won control of the House in November on promises to slash government spending by $100 billion this year. Leaders backed off that pledge, offering a plan they will take up next week that trims 2011 spending by $35 billion, in part because the fiscal year already is almost half over. The cuts are $58 billion less than President Barack Obama requested for non-security discretionary spending.

The House Republicans pushing for the full $100 billion in cuts aren’t buying their leadership’s reasoning.

“We are going to be accused of hating children, seniors, clean air and all of the above, so you might as well come out all at once out of the box and say ‘this is what I am trying to do,’” said Representative Jack Kingston, a Georgia Republican and member of the Appropriations Committee. “Many members feel like, ‘now, you said $100 billion.’”

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