Freshman Republican warns of 'backlash' if cuts are too deep

One freshman House Republican is warning of a potential "backlash" against the GOP if its spending cuts are too far-reaching.

Republican House leaders have proposed $61 billion in cuts to current spending levels, but there's debate within the caucus about whether deeper cuts are needed to meet their post-election promises.

"We have to be very responsible about what we're cutting out," Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy (R) told The Ballot Box. "If we go too far, there will be backlash."

Some freshman Republicans have pushed for $100 billion in cuts to current spending levels, the proposal contained in the GOP's "Pledge to America."

Duffy, who won the seat held by long-time Wisconsin Rep. David Obey (D), said he never campaigned on making $100 billion in spending cuts.

"This is a messaging failure," he said. "I never talked about $100 billion, I talked about '08 levels and I think the conference talked about '08 levels.

"Some folks are trying to pigeon hole the party, when they really said '08 levels," Duffy added. "That's what I had talked about. I think we're well on our way of getting there, or very close to it."

But Duffy warned that his constituents are worried about deep cuts to entitlement programs.

"I see it with my constituents. They want us to cut back, but I think it's possible to go too far," he said. "I think real reform is going to come when both parties sit down and talk about Social Security and Medicare. It's got to be a bipartisan solution. Otherwise, as we've seen in history, both parties will snipe at each other."