Democrat offers a spending cut, Republican opposes

Early Thursday morning, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) proposed cutting $42.5 million in funding for the U.S. Institute of Peace. Then, a Republican, Kay Granger (R-Texas), objected.

Weiner said Democrats need to be able to demonstrate a willingness to cut, and said the U.S. Institute of Peace has long held a privileged status and commanded an ability to receive money that might otherwise be spread across other groups, such as think tanks.

Granger objected, as did Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), who said the Institute is a useful policy aid for the government and gives military officers access to civilian advisers. House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-Calif.) said it is unfair to compare the Institute with a think tank, and said it is "really more of a 'do tank.'"