House GOP budget has $61B in cuts

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

On a collision course over spending, House Republicans advanced a sweeping, $61 billion package of budget reductions Tuesday despite a veto threat and a warning from President Barack Obama against cuts “that could endanger the recovery.”

Congressional Democrats said the Republican cuts would reduce U.S. employment rather than add to it and leapt to criticize when House Speaker John Boehner said “so be it” if federal government jobs are lost.

Spending legislation must be signed into law by March 4 to prevent a government shutdown that neither side says it wants. The GOP bill, separate from the 2012 budget Obama unveiled Monday, covers spending for the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.

The current legislation would affect domestic programs ranging from education and science to agriculture and parks, and it marks the first significant attack on federal deficits by Republicans elected last fall with the support of tea-party activists. Passage is likely by week’s end in the House, but a frosty reception is expected later in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

For all the maneuvering, the measure is merely a first round in what looms as a politically defining struggle that soon will expand to encompass Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, the large government programs that provide benefits directly to tens of millions.

“We know we can’t balance this budget simply by reducing nonsecurity, nondefense spending,” said Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, referring to the 359-page bill that would cut $61 billion from domestic programs.

“But as the saying goes, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This is that first step.”

The measure is sweeping in its scope, cutting spending from literally hundreds of domestic budget accounts and eliminating many others.

In contrast to cuts for many agencies, the Pentagon would get an increase from current levels, and the House rejected a handful of efforts to scale it back.

The largest proposed cut, an attempt by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., to slice $415 million from production of the V-22 Osprey aircraft, was defeated on a vote of 326-105.