Van Hollen: GOP spending cuts are 'reckless'

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said Saturday that a Republican proposal to cut government spending by $100 billion is "reckless" and "irresponsible."

“House Republicans’ proposal to cut $100 billion from the budget for the remainder of the year is reckless," Van Hollen said in a statement. "It will put more Americans out of work at a time when too many families are still struggling, and these deep cuts do virtually nothing to address our nation’s long-term structural deficit."

House Republicans unveiled a proposal to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year Friday night that would cut spending by $100 billion when compared to Obama's 2011 budget request. House GOP leadership had originally called for less stringent cuts, but Tea Party freshmen demanded that Republicans cut spending by $100 billion.

Democrats quickly slammed the government spending proposal.

“In the House, Republicans have now been given the keys to the car," Van Hollen said. "Unfortunately, they are driving under the influence of a rigid ideology that threatens to slow economic growth and cut jobs.”