Those frisky Republicans just want to spend, spend and spend some more...
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/08/house.budget.ap/index.html
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republican leaders' $54 billion deficit reduction package is encountering objections from many GOP lawmakers -- and not just the usual moderates upset about cuts to social programs.
Objections to Arctic drilling cut across the spectrum, and the generally conservative Florida delegation is in an uproar over coastal drilling. Killing a program that compensates companies hurt by unfair trade practices is losing support among stalwart Republicans from Idaho and Alabama.
The sweeping bill is the first in eight years to take on the automatic growth in government programs like Medicaid, food stamps and student loan subsidies, but it will have to be rewritten if it is going to have a chance to pass later this week. (Read bill details)
For many Republican moderates there is simply too much in the bill to dislike, in particular a roster of cuts to social programs used to finance a companion tax-cut bill.
But several other provisions -- such as oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- established pockets of opposition. Even loyal Republicans are threatening to kill the entire bill over the single issue they care about.
That's why GOP leaders are losing votes from lawmakers such as such Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-New Jersey, who opposes plans to permit oil drilling in an Alaskan wilderness area and along the U.S. coast.
Since there are so many political hotspots, Republican leaders' headaches have multiplied.
"This thing is getting to be very top-heavy as a bill," said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts. "It's an incredible package deal for moderates one year out from an election."
Often, when GOP leaders are building a vote tally toward the magic 218 votes needed to capture a majority of the House, Republican moderates such as Chris Shays of Connecticut and Mike Castle of Delaware are among those most reluctant to come on board.
But these House GOP moderates also have a reputation for cracking under pressure when it come time to vote. So far this time, they seem to be holding firm.
It's not just moderates who are unhappy with the House budget bill. The dissatisfaction extends to a far broader spectrum of Republicans, including Florida's Mark Foley and Connie Mack, who are opposed to lifting a ban on offshore oil drilling.
Other flash points in the House budget bill:
Oil Drilling. Twenty-four Republicans have signed a letter opposing drilling in ANWR as part of the broader budget bill, which means it can't be debated to death in the Senate. Environmental activists are confident that at least half of these lawmakers would carry out the threat if the issue were put to a vote. There is growing speculation that the Arctic drilling provision will be dumped before floor debate, though GOP leaders would probably try to revisit the issue in final House-Senate talks.
A separate issue is whether to lift a 24-year ban on drilling along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and open a contested tract off the Florida Gulf coast to oil drilling. Several Florida Republicans are among those most strongly opposed to the plan.
Unfair trade practices. Twenty-one Republicans have threatened to opposed the bigger budget bill if it contains a provision to kill a program established by Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-West Virginia, to dedicate duties paid by foreign companies who unfairly "dump" their exports to U.S. companies harmed by such unfair trading practices. Republican loyalists from states including Idaho, Ohio, Alabama and North Carolina are threatening to defect unless the program is kept alive.
Medicaid. Already, Rep. Heather Wilson, R-New Mexico, has voted against a plan to curb Medicaid spending by $9.5 billion over five years during debate before the Energy and Commerce Committee. Earlier, she drafted a letter -- signed by 43 other Republicans -- urging no cuts to Medicaid this year.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/08/house.budget.ap/index.html
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republican leaders' $54 billion deficit reduction package is encountering objections from many GOP lawmakers -- and not just the usual moderates upset about cuts to social programs.
Objections to Arctic drilling cut across the spectrum, and the generally conservative Florida delegation is in an uproar over coastal drilling. Killing a program that compensates companies hurt by unfair trade practices is losing support among stalwart Republicans from Idaho and Alabama.
The sweeping bill is the first in eight years to take on the automatic growth in government programs like Medicaid, food stamps and student loan subsidies, but it will have to be rewritten if it is going to have a chance to pass later this week. (Read bill details)
For many Republican moderates there is simply too much in the bill to dislike, in particular a roster of cuts to social programs used to finance a companion tax-cut bill.
But several other provisions -- such as oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- established pockets of opposition. Even loyal Republicans are threatening to kill the entire bill over the single issue they care about.
That's why GOP leaders are losing votes from lawmakers such as such Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-New Jersey, who opposes plans to permit oil drilling in an Alaskan wilderness area and along the U.S. coast.
Since there are so many political hotspots, Republican leaders' headaches have multiplied.
"This thing is getting to be very top-heavy as a bill," said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts. "It's an incredible package deal for moderates one year out from an election."
Often, when GOP leaders are building a vote tally toward the magic 218 votes needed to capture a majority of the House, Republican moderates such as Chris Shays of Connecticut and Mike Castle of Delaware are among those most reluctant to come on board.
But these House GOP moderates also have a reputation for cracking under pressure when it come time to vote. So far this time, they seem to be holding firm.
It's not just moderates who are unhappy with the House budget bill. The dissatisfaction extends to a far broader spectrum of Republicans, including Florida's Mark Foley and Connie Mack, who are opposed to lifting a ban on offshore oil drilling.
Other flash points in the House budget bill:
Oil Drilling. Twenty-four Republicans have signed a letter opposing drilling in ANWR as part of the broader budget bill, which means it can't be debated to death in the Senate. Environmental activists are confident that at least half of these lawmakers would carry out the threat if the issue were put to a vote. There is growing speculation that the Arctic drilling provision will be dumped before floor debate, though GOP leaders would probably try to revisit the issue in final House-Senate talks.
A separate issue is whether to lift a 24-year ban on drilling along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and open a contested tract off the Florida Gulf coast to oil drilling. Several Florida Republicans are among those most strongly opposed to the plan.
Unfair trade practices. Twenty-one Republicans have threatened to opposed the bigger budget bill if it contains a provision to kill a program established by Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-West Virginia, to dedicate duties paid by foreign companies who unfairly "dump" their exports to U.S. companies harmed by such unfair trading practices. Republican loyalists from states including Idaho, Ohio, Alabama and North Carolina are threatening to defect unless the program is kept alive.
Medicaid. Already, Rep. Heather Wilson, R-New Mexico, has voted against a plan to curb Medicaid spending by $9.5 billion over five years during debate before the Energy and Commerce Committee. Earlier, she drafted a letter -- signed by 43 other Republicans -- urging no cuts to Medicaid this year.
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