House GOP pulls its budget punches

Yahoo ^ | 4/24/12 | Andrew Taylor - AP

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans controlling the House are opting for the politically safe route as they follow up their tightfisted, tea party-driven budget with less controversial steps to cut spending.

Instead of big reductions in Medicaid and Medicare, top GOP lawmakers are sticking mostly with familiar proposals like cutting money for President Barack Obama's health care overhaul and federal employee pensions while reaching out to Democrats to help pass annual spending bills.

At issue is follow-up legislation to the sweeping budget document that passed the House last month. Under Congress' arcane budget process, it's simply a nonbinding blueprint that sets the terms for follow-up legislation.

The broader GOP plan, by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., also calls for cutting day-to-day operating budgets for domestic agencies $19 billion below last summer's bipartisan budget and debt deal.

Republicans strongly backed the Ryan plan last month as a first step in tackling out of control deficits. It's also a campaign document that casts in stark relief the differences between Republicans and Democrats on spending and deficits with an election little more than six months away.

...

.. conservatives are enthusiastic about the cuts, though they pale in comparison to what's in store if Republicans win the Senate and take back the White House.

"It is, to a certain extent, an introduction to what we might go through next year if the elections go the way we want," said Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C.

What the Republicans are doing now is hardly unusual. Democrats in the Senate aren't pressing ahead at all on the budget, fearful of politically risky votes.

[NormsRevenge]

Holy YolkSac, Batman!

Is the media running scared or what?

The 'TEA Party' is alive and tightfisted'r than ever!

[Venturer]

Republicans always play softball, So where is the news in this.

[elephant]

Excuse me?

[upchuck]

Mick Mulvaney kicking ass.

South Carolina
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BTY:

# 5 Georgia:        $906
#19 North Carolina: $435
#28 South Carolina: $230

For shame!