House Republicans on Wednesday refused to yield in their pledge to uphold a campaign promise to reduce federal spending to 2008 levels despite an impasse with Democrats over the budget that threatens to shut down the government.
Republican lawmakers essentially thumbed their noses at the Democrats Wednesday by reintroducing legislation that would cut $61 billion through September, the end of the current fiscal year. The Senate, run by Democrats, has already rejected the plan and declared the cuts too steep to support.
But Republican leaders are facing increasing pressure from their large faction of fiscal conservatives, who in turn are getting an earful from the Tea Party activists who helped elect them to Congress. Tea Party groups are planning a rally at the Capitol Thursday to pressure Republicans to hold their ground in the budget talks and refuse to settle for fewer cuts.
The GOP bill would not only reinstate their original budget-cutting legislation, but would stipulate that if the government shuts down, neither members of Congress nor the president would be paid.
"We are hopeful that this proposal will urge the Senate to act instead of play politics with a shutdown," a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said.
Many House Republicans have suggested they would vote against a bill that cuts less than the $61 billion, which reduces spending to the 2008 levels the GOP promised during the 2010 campaign.
"I think we need to keep our word to the American people," said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., a speaker at Thursday's Tea Party rally.
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3 comments:
Dems and Repubs arguing between 30 and 61 billion should be put into perspective. They're arguing over a rounding error compared to the annual deficit the gov't runs. 1.6 trillion(give or take a few hundred billion) is what the gov't annually overspends. I'm not even supporting the proposed 2011 budget cut of 100 billion, it doesn't go far enough. It's a good start, don't get me wrong, but in the big picture it's nowhere near enough.
they should cut 1.6 trillion or whatever is needed to get back in the black. Its like a crack head smoking one less hit of crack yearly when he takes 3000 a year. Doesn't help one bit..cant believe they cant agree with 60 billion. Dems are making it easy for the tea party. Oh and Obama...you are the worst president ever.
11:46 and 3:50 got it right. Its a political game. YOU look good this year (wink, wink) and then I'll look good next year. We'll BOTH promise "change" and "fiscal restraint", and speak fervently about "cutting the budget". But...BUT...its the SAME people who spent all the money that are now crowing about the bloated budget!! The SAME ONES!! Like they didn't realize that we were 14 TRILLION $ in the red!! If ONLY someone had said something!! Are that many Americans so world-class STUPID that they fall for this crap year after year after year?? And keep voting, in the belief that the NEXT guy promising "change" will actually do something?? LOL!! The Tree of Liberty is SCREAMING at us.
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