Four billion may not sound like a lot in the context of our current level of spending, but it is two billion a week; which calculates out to more then the 100 billion target for the year. It is also at least a start. The Republicans should be happy to have this debate every week with the Democrats dragging their feet. The Democrats would be wise to go longer term. They will find that out the hard way again in the next election cycle.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_congress_spending
"The House passed emergency short-term legislation Tuesday to cut federal spending by $4 billion and avert a government shutdown. Senate Democrats agreed to follow suit, handing Republicans an early victory in their drive to rein in government.
The bill that cleared the House on a bipartisan vote of 335-91 eliminates the threat of a shutdown on March 4, when existing funding authority expires. At the same time, it creates a compressed two-week timeframe for the White House and lawmakers to engage in what looms as a highly contentious negotiation on a follow-up bill to set spending levels through the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year.
The Senate set a vote on the short-term measure for Wednesday morning, the final step before it goes to President Barack Obama for his signature. "We'll pass this and then look at funding the government on a long-term basis," said Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
...
When it came time to vote, Democrats split, 104 in favor and 85 against. The leadership was similarly divided, Hoyer supporting the legislation and the party's leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, opposed.
Republicans voted 231-6 in favor."
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
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