The House passed the single largest spending cut in modern history, and our action serves as the historic turning point from a Congress that ignored the will of the people to a Congress that responds to the will of the people. This is the first of many steps by the House to trim spending, live within its means and get people back to work. At a time when the federal government is borrowing 40 cents of every dollar that it spends and our debt is more than $14 trillion, we have taken an important first step toward fiscal restraint. As a part of our cut-and-grow plan, Republicans are cutting spending so that we can begin to get our fiscal house in order and foster an environment that encourages businesses to grow and create jobs. To put it simply, less government spending equals more private-sector jobs. — House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.
The House Republicans are insisting on cutting spending by $61 billion for the rest of this fiscal year. The arbitrary number derives from an arbitrary campaign pledge to cut $100 billion in discretionary spending from the level President Obama requested. House leaders say that the $61 billion below 2010 spending levels fulfills that pledge. But cuts of the magnitude in the House Republican proposal would be unwise, especially when the economic recovery is still faltering. Policymakers need to figure out what government requires to operate and budget from there — not lop off arbitrary sums. In an era of eye-popping deficits and severe budget constraints, some worthy programs may become unaffordable luxuries. Other programs that serve the poor or most vulnerable may face painful cuts. But at the least government has to be funded so that it can perform its core responsibilities. The House GOP budget fails even this basic test. — Washington Post
