Florida's Republican delegation is sparring over the GOP's proposed $32 billion in cuts to the current federal budget, while taking political fire from the left and right.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wants to raise the ante to at least $100 billion.
"The American people expect at least this level -- which is just one-fifteenth of the FY 2011 budget deficit," Rubio wrote along with 10 other Republican senators to House Speaker John Boehner.
Florida Reps. Bill Posey and Tom Rooney agree in principle. But they join other House Republicans in supporting the $32 billion package put together by Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc.
Its imperative that Congress and the administration work to address out-of-control Washington spending, said Posey, R-Rockledge.
Washington has been on a spending spree that has further indebted our children, and many of the programs that Washington has directed this funding toward have failed to stimulate the economy.In just two years, Washington spent $3 trillion we did not have.
"We need to set new priorities and pare back spending in those areas that have seen excesses. Postponing such decisions will only serve to draw the day of reckoning even closer.
Rooney, R-Tequesta, calculates that the $32 billion cut will morph into a larger figure.
The spending limits set by Republicans will save taxpayers $74 billion over eight months compared to the presidents budget request. This is just the beginning were going to cut, cut and then cut some more.
"After we go back to pre-bailout, pre-stimulus spending levels, well take the scalpel to Obamacare slush funds, remaining stimulus and TARP funds, and other wasteful spending.In the 'Pledge to America,' Republicans committed to $100 billion in spending cuts, and Im confident well get there.
The White House estimates that returning to 2008 spending levels would gut many programs, including NASA. Liberal groups roundly reject GOP reductions, calling them draconian.
On the right, tea party groups are echoing Rubio's call for deeper cuts.
"We are working with the RSC (Republican Study Committee) and others.Our hope is that these cuts are the beginning, not the end. We want to see them cut in the triple digits at least," said Brendan Steinhauser, a spokesman for FreedomWorks in Washington, D.C.
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed last month, FreedomWorks Chairman Dick Armey, a former congressman, argued for sweeping proposals that would slash $3.6 trillion in short- and longer-term outlays. Among the larger cuts:
- End Obamacare (saving $1 trillion).
- Privatize the Postal Service ($238 billion over 10 years).
- Curb defense spending ($154 billion over five years).
- Eliminate the Department of Housing and Urban Development ($63 billion).
- Reduce federal worker salaries by at least 10 percent ($20 billion).
- Abolish farm subsidies ($25 billion) and energy subsidies ($20 billion).
While congressional Republicans joust over where to cut, and how much, the Libertarian Party took a shot at the GOP.
"The Tea Party supporters have been betrayed. These cuts are so small, you need a microscope to find them," said national Libertarian Party chairman Mark Hinkle.
"The Congressional Budget Office just told us that federal spending was expected to be about $3.7 trillion this year. After the Republican cuts, it will still be about $3.7 trillion. The Republican cuts are so tiny, they disappear in the rounding error.
"Even with these cuts, the federal deficit will be over $1.4 trillion this year," Hinkle added.
Poking the GOP's underbelly, Hinkle said, "It doesn't help that congressional Republicans voted for more unemployment spending and ethanol subsidies last December, or that they want to keep increasing military spending. And they haven't come up with any serious cuts to entitlements.
"I think the Tea Party supporters were expecting real cuts, not this nonsense. We tried to warn Tea Party supporters last year that the Republicans were just trying to fool them again. It looks like we were right."
In the event of budget gridlock on Capitol Hill, Hinkle concluded, "If angry Republicans and Democrats threatened to shut down the government instead, Libertarians would say 'Fine.'"
In a related development, the GOP-friendly American Conservative Unionis debating whether Libertarians should be banned from its annual Conservative Political Action Conference.
Noting the Republicans' precarious position in the political crossfire, Tom Tillison of the Central Florida Tea Party Council said of budget cutters: "You're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't."
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
