GOP reaction to budget-slashing proposal mixed

As House Budget Chairman John Kasich, R-Ohio, began outlining his budget priorities to Republican colleagues Tuesday night, members clearly were divided along ideological lines: Conservatives embraced it, while moderates approached it cautiously.

"I know this isn't going to be easy," Kasich said following a meeting of the House Republican Conference.

Kasich discussed the philosophy behind his budget and did not fill in any of the numbers, although Kasich aides in recent weeks have said the budget will contain about $100 billion in spending cuts.

Following the broad briefing, Kasich today will begin meeting with small groups of Republicans to discuss the specifics of the plan and to gauge members' reactions.

"We are going to grow the vote," said House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who added that he will assist Kasich in his sales job. Asked when the deadline for floor action will be, DeLay said, "When we have 218 votes."

Kasich said, "It's going to be a long process," adding that it could take a month. He said he will attempt to provide appropriators with enough guidance so they can begin marking up fiscal 1999 spending bills if they prefer to do so.

Meanwhile, the reaction to the Kasich budget was mixed. Budget member Robert Ehrlich, R-Md., said Kasich is proposing a budget based on "good Republican principles that will excite the Republican grass roots."

"However, we are realistic enough to know the appropriations votes necessary to implement this [budget] will be difficult because of our narrow majority," Ehrlich added.

Rep. David McIntosh, R-Ind., chairman of the Conservative Action Team, said the Kasich budget is based on GOP principles of "smaller government, lower taxes and paying down the debt. I enthusiastically support that." However, McIntosh added, "I would like for him [Kasich] to go further."

Asked about the sentiment in the conference, McIntosh said, "I think the majority was supportive, in fact, he asked for a show of hands."

However, House Labor-HHS and Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Edward Porter, R-Ill., said, "We have to govern," which includes producing 13 appropriations bills the president can sign.

Asked about the size of the spending cuts, Porter said, "The Senate isn't going to agree to that in the first place." He said he would prefer that Kasich work with Senate Republicans to reach a GOP consensus.

Moderate Rep. Rick Lazio, R-N.Y., said moderates will want to focus on the size of the proposed discretionary spending cuts, and their effect on particular programs.