How many times have GOP leaders proposed real spending reductions and elimination of unneeded government programs??
They tried in the early days before Clinton killed them by demagoging them to death over the government shutdown. The GOP learned voters love small government rhetoric but want their handouts left well enough alone. So it has backed off from its once grand aim of putting the welfare state out of business.
"How many times have GOP leaders proposed real spending reductions and elimination of unneeded government programs??"
--Since unexpected Democratic pick-ups in 1998? Not many. But in the 4 years before that, we (the GOP) really really tried.