GOP split leaves more spending cuts on the table

The House rejected 13 GOP proposals to cut $4.7 billion out of a 2013 spending bill in Wednesday afternoon votes that saw dozens of Republicans oppose these deeper spending reductions.

Combined, the amendments would have cut about 9 percent of the $51.6 billion spending bill for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The bill, H.R. 5972, already cuts spending by nearly $4 billion compared to last year's levels, but many Republicans wanted to go further in light of rising deficits and debt.

The largest cut on Wednesday came from Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), who proposed eliminating HUD's community development block grant program, cutting $3.4 billion. But his amendment was defeated 80-342 — 156 Republicans voted against the amendment.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) offered language that would have cut community block grants by $396 million, back to 2012 levels. This was also defeated, in a 157-267 vote, when about 80 Republicans opposed it along with Democrats.

Similarly, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) proposed reducing HUD's Home Investment Partnership Program by $200 million, to 2012 levels, but this was killed 178-242.

McClintock also proposed the elimination of $6 million in funding for the Community Development Loan Guarantee Program, which the House rejected 123-300. That vote split Republicans nearly evenly.

Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) saw the House reject nine of his amendments, which would have cut a combined $700 million. Broun noted that each of his amendments would have reduced spending in various accounts that were increased above 2012 levels, and that his proposals therefore would not cut these accounts, but merely maintain current spending levels.

His two largest amendments would have cut $562 million from HUD's Public Housing Operating Fund, and $110 million from HUD's Public Housing Capital Fund.

Broun's other proposals would have cut money from HUD's Public and Indian Housing program, Community Planning and Development salaries, Office of Community Planning and Development, Policy and Development Research program, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity office and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation. He also proposed a $900,00 cut to Federal Maritime Commission salaries, again to 2012 levels.

For each Broun amendment, a minimum of 50 Republicans voted against the deeper cuts, and more than 60 Republicans opposed them in most cases.

Other amendments disposed of Wednesday were from:

• Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), to increase Public and Indian Housing by $460 million. Point of order.

• Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii), to move $13 million from an administration account to Native Hawaiian Block Grants. Point of order.

• Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), to prevent more than 25 percent of Community Development Block Grant funding from being used for public services. Withdrawn.

• Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), to allow up to $200 million in the Home Investment Partnership Program to be used on disaster relief. Point of order.

• Rep. Hansen Clarke (D-Mich.), to move $5 million from a Management and Administration Working Capital Fund to Homeless Assistance Grants. Accepted, voice vote.

• Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio), to raise the cap on spending on housing demolition under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program from 10 percent to 75 percent. Point of order.

• Rep. David Price (D-N.C.), to allow public housing authorities merge capital and operating funds. Point of order.

• Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), to ensure domestic content will make up 85 percent of all steel, iron and manufactured goods. Point of order.

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