Poll: Voters Side With GOP On Budget Cuts

Voters appear to be siding with Republicans over Democrats so far in the “high-noon” showdown over federal budget cuts — but that may continue only as long as voters believe Republicans are acting in good faith to try to avoid an impasse that would temporarily shut down parts of the federal government.

Voters see Republicans as “more reasonable” than Democrats so far in budget negotiations – by a 41-to-29 percent margin, according to a poll published Monday by TheHill.com.

“Voters want cuts,” said Democratic pollster and Fox News contributor Douglas Schoen. “The November election results made that clear.”

The Hill poll was particularly notable, given Democratic efforts to portray the GOP cuts as “extreme.”

On "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Majority Leader Harry Reid said the grass-roots, conservative tea party movement intimidates GOP leaders.  “The tea party is dictating a lot that goes on in the Republican leadership in the House," he said.

Democrats have said they are close to a deal with GOP leaders that would continue funding the federal government for the remainder of this fiscal year, in return for $31 billion in budget cuts.

But House Speaker John Boehner, who would have to sign off on any deal, disputes those reports. One major sticking point: GOP riders that would eliminate funding for pet Democratic programs such as Planned Parenthood and NPR.

Because the Democratic-controlled 111th Congress opted not to try to pass a budget before the midterm elections, the federal government has been operating on a series of continuing resolutions authorizing its operations. The current funding resolution expires this Friday.

Last week, Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer was overheard on an open microphone remarking that his caucus had instructed him to label Republican proposals as “extreme” at every opportunity. He has refused to back down from that characterization.

Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips fired back at Democrats on Sunday, telling Fox: "I think radical and extreme is driving the country into bankruptcy which is what the Democrats want to do... You want to talk about radical and extreme, talk about Harry Reid. That is radical and extreme.”

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