RSC-proposed cuts appear headed for defeat as Republicans oppose

An amendment to cut another $22 billion from the Republican's FY 2011 spending bill appeared to be headed toward defeat on Friday, as several Republicans said they would oppose the bill. The chair of the proceedings said the "noes" appeared to have it on the amendment, but the amendment will come up for a roll call vote later on Friday.

Republicans began debate at about 12:30 p.m. on the amendment from Republican Study Committee (RSC) member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), which would cut 11 percent of funds for the legislative branch and 5.5 percent for most federal agencies.

But early in the debate, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers (R-Ky.) said he opposes the language, because the main bill already makes significant cuts that were made "thoughtfully… by the people who know those programs best."

In contrast, he said, the Jordan bill cuts "everything, indiscriminately, in a heavy-handed way."

Another Republican, Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.), called the amendment is "misguided," and said cuts in the committee were done "surgically" with "deliberate intent."

"Across-the-board cuts are a lazy way to achieve something," added Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), and Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla.) also spoke in opposition, saying the proposal would cut some national-security items. Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), Frank Wolf (R-Va.), Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Kay Granger (R-Texas) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) also spoke against the bill.

As expected, Democrats were also quick to pounce on the RSC proposal.

"This is a meat axe approach on top of a meat axe approach," Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) said, noting that the underlying bill already includes significant cuts. "It's a double meat axe approach."

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) objected to Lungren's idea that the amendment was a "lazy" approach. "This government is over-spent, we have to get it under control," she said. Several freshman Republicans also spoke in favor of the measure.

Still, many House Republicans have already rejected more than $4 billion in proposed cuts to the spending bill throughout the week, which called into question whether enough Republicans would be able to support Jordan's amendment.

-- This story was updated at 1:30 p.m.