GOP lawmakers plan cuts in Bush budget

The Washington Times ^ | Feb 4, 2004 | Ralph Z. Hallow and Amy Fagan

[neverdem]

Congressional Republicans, in an extraordinary break with the White House in an election year, say President Bush's 2005 budget proposal "doesn't go far enough" to restrain government spending and are considering pursuing further cuts in outlays.

Rep. Jim Nussle of Iowa, chairman of the House Budget Committee, yesterday said Republicans and the White House should even be willing to trim wasteful spending in the Defense and Homeland Security departments.

[GeronL]

"We have a budget here that you are telling us is incomplete," complained Rep. James P. Moran, Virginia Democrat

Hey pssssst.. Mr. Moron... its the job of CONGRESS to write a complete budget, not the administration...

Just a tip.

[cripplecreek]

Sounds to me like the other shoe is fixing to drop. Could this be part of a political strategy that we havent thought of?

[Drango]

Uhhhh...cut the NEA $18 million. I just don't feel like being forced to pay for someone else's Shakespeare's tickets.

[Kay Soze]

"Congressional Republicans, in an extraordinary break with the White House in an election year.."

These 'rat congressman simply don't understand that this election is the single most important event in the history of this great...

Oh wait...

It says Congressional Republicans.

These right wing whack jobs- "unnappaesers" simply don't understand that this election is the single most important event in the history of this great...

[Brimack34]

GOod to hear it is their fault the spending went up any way.Also Mr. Bush job approval is 55%.

[Free Vulcan]

This has been discussed here at FR a number of times. It would be a classic head fake and quintessential GW if it is true.

Now that the Dems have painted themselves in the corner as the party of fiscal responsibility, I hope the Republicans in Congress school them on what real budget cuts are.

[Free Vulcan]

"Rep. Jim Nussle of Iowa, chairman of the House Budget Committee, yesterday said Republicans and the White House should even be willing to trim wasteful spending in the Defense and Homeland Security departments....."We shouldn't be wasting one penny. We're going to look in every nook and cranny," he said."

You're my boy Nussle!

[Ophiucus]

Now that the Dems have painted themselves in the corner as the party of fiscal responsibility, I hope the Republicans in Congress school them on what real budget cuts are.

Putting fiscal responsibility and overspending blame on Congress? That can't be!

IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT!!!

Just ask any frothing, foaming at the mouth Leftist, er - DemoRat, er- Constipation Partier, er...aw, heck, who can tell them apart? They all look/talk the same....

[CatAtomic]

"Rep. Jim Nussle of Iowa, chairman of the House Budget Committee, yesterday said Republicans and the White House should even be willing to trim wasteful spending in the Defense and Homeland Security departments....."We shouldn't be wasting one penny. We're going to look in every nook and cranny," he said."

You're my boy Nussle!

I can only hope you're being sarcastic when considering the fact that Iowa ranks at the top of taxpayer sinkholes. If Nussle wants to impress me, he can propose cutting that massive farm bill in half!

[Free Vulcan]

I'd have to research it, but I think Nussle was very much against the Harkin Farm Bill and spoke out about it.

[Just Lori]

"Rep. Jim Nussle of Iowa, chairman of the House Budget Committee, yesterday said Republicans and the White House should even be willing to trim wasteful spending in the Defense and Homeland Security departments....."We shouldn't be wasting one penny. We're going to look in every nook and cranny," he said."



If only we could get rid of all the federally subsidized "studies" going on all over the country. Even that guy on TV who sells his book telling folks how to get FREE government money. THIS is the crap that needs cutting, and it has been going on for years and years. Cutting the military? Why dont you just cut off your right arm? And leg? And maybe....something else while you're at it? (speaking of course to Mr. Nussle). I get so damned frustrated!

[The Bat Lady]

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Texas Republican, said that the theme of controlling government spending was the "real thrust of the conversation" at the House and Senate Republican retreat last weekend. Some lawmakers said on the condition of anonymity that a few colleagues were so angered by the huge disparity in estimated costs and the latest budget projections on the prescription-drugs program that they are discussing a move to rescind the benefits.

"This deficit reduction is the combined effect of economic growth and spending restraint," Mr. Bolten said, adding that economic growth will "bring us out" of debt.

IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!

I have been refusing to give to the republicans for a long time, saying the leadership is not voting limited government.... when they do, they will get my money.

[CatAtomic]

I'd have to research it, but I think Nussle was very much against the Harkin Farm Bill and spoke out about it.

That would impress me if Nussle put up a real(not staged) fight against the Farm Bill. Can't say I recall anything of Nussle, but Harkin and Grassley(both being senior Senators) play "tag team" in the Senate Budget Committee. Doesn't matter which party is in power, Iowa NEVER loses out.

[Free Vulcan]

I was thinking Nussle and Harkin got in a spat over the farm bill and exchanged some insults. Don't know if Nussle voted for it or not though.

Problem you got with the farm economy is that you can't make money at it in alot of cases. Well you can, but the problem is alot of farmers don't approach it like a business and don't do the things they should do.

Because of that, frankly if there were no subsidies most farmers would be out of business. If the farm economy tanked, two things would happen. Most farmers owe money on their land, most of the value of loans in the rural areas are on the land, so basically it would collapse the banking system.

The other is that property values would collapse, meaning property taxes would collapse, and local and state govt would grind to a halt. In otherwards, it would bring the whole system down, and the fed govt knows it.

How we fix that and make farmers profitable again, I don't know.

[JohnnyZ]

Rep. Jim Nussle of Iowa, chairman of the House Budget Committee

Plus Pence, Ryan, and Myrick.

A good group. Myrick (my rep) pisses me off sometimes but then sometimes she makes more sense.

Of course Ted Stevens and company in the senate are gonna try to spend MORE money.