Ryan budget launches new battle
By: David Rogers
Politico.com
March 29, 2012 11:21 PM EDT
With their budget in hand, House Republicans now face an intense two months of committee activity in which spending cuts must be fleshed out together with a quick-strike deficit-reduction package intended to substitute for automatic reductions from defense in January.
Thursday’s 228-191 vote was the show of party unity that the leadership wanted most. But it was also a devil’s bargain: appeasing the right by walking away from the August debt accords but inviting another October shutdown fight with Senate Democrats unless the House alters course.
When lawmakers return in mid-April from their spring recess, House and Senate Appropriations committees will have to write their annual spending bills using two sets of instructions — instead of one as envisioned under the Budget Control Act. And the Republican resolution gives six other House committees an April 27 deadline to come up with an additional $261 billion in 10-year savings to forestall a January sequester from defense — also under the BCA.
The Armed Services Committee is exempt, breaking faith with the spirit of the August accords. Instead, food stamps, health care programs and federal worker retirement benefits are the prime targets. In the case of Medicaid, the hope is to tread lightly, tapping savings already proposed by the White House. But the budget places a heavy bet on more than $50 billion in long-term savings attributed to contentious medical liability reforms.
(More here.)
Politico.com
March 29, 2012 11:21 PM EDT
With their budget in hand, House Republicans now face an intense two months of committee activity in which spending cuts must be fleshed out together with a quick-strike deficit-reduction package intended to substitute for automatic reductions from defense in January.
Thursday’s 228-191 vote was the show of party unity that the leadership wanted most. But it was also a devil’s bargain: appeasing the right by walking away from the August debt accords but inviting another October shutdown fight with Senate Democrats unless the House alters course.
When lawmakers return in mid-April from their spring recess, House and Senate Appropriations committees will have to write their annual spending bills using two sets of instructions — instead of one as envisioned under the Budget Control Act. And the Republican resolution gives six other House committees an April 27 deadline to come up with an additional $261 billion in 10-year savings to forestall a January sequester from defense — also under the BCA.
The Armed Services Committee is exempt, breaking faith with the spirit of the August accords. Instead, food stamps, health care programs and federal worker retirement benefits are the prime targets. In the case of Medicaid, the hope is to tread lightly, tapping savings already proposed by the White House. But the budget places a heavy bet on more than $50 billion in long-term savings attributed to contentious medical liability reforms.
(More here.)
Powered by Blogger
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home