With common-sense exceptions for seniors, veterans, and our troops, we will roll back government spending to prestimulus, pre-bailout levels, saving us at least $100 billion in the first year alone and putting us on a path to begin paying down the debt, balancing the budget, and ending the spending spree in Washington that threatens our children’s future.To this end, Republicans passed pointless, go-nowhere legislation. They then fulminated and threatened to shut the government down if they didn't get their way. With a shut down looming, their leader, Rep. John Boehner bargained tenaciously for spending cuts.
Today, those negotiated "spending cuts" were approved by a large majority of House Republicans (and with substantial support--81 votes--from Democrats).
The effect on this year's budget?
Total spending this year will be $3.3 billion higher than last year.
The Washington Post reports
The Congressional Budget Office estimate shows that compared with current spending rates the spending bill due for a House vote Thursday would cut federal outlays from non-war accounts by just $352 million through Sept. 30. About $8 billion in immediate cuts to domestic programs and foreign aid are offset by nearly equal increases in defense spending.So, far from reducing this year's budget, the Republican House just approved a $3.3 billion spending increase for FY 2011.
When war funding is factored in the legislation would actually increase total federal outlays by $3.3 billion relative to current levels.
To quote Sarah Palin's question to the National Tea Party Convention, "how's that hopey changey thing working out for ya?"
