Sen. Nelson to work with fiscal conservatives on 2012 budget

Centrist Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) indicated this week he will work with colleagues committed to a “fiscally conservative budget” as the parties try to forge a spending agreement for fiscal year 2012.

“I'm going to continue to work with Republicans, Democrats, independents and anyone else committed to a fair, fiscally conservative budget,” said Nelson, referring to the coming fight over the 2012 budget.

Calling himself a “fiscal hawk,” Nelson, who is up for reelection in 2012, said he wants to implement “substantial cuts” in government spending.

"We need to be engaging in even more cuts than we were able to make in the 2011 budget,” Nelson said at the Kearney Rotary Club, according to a news release from his office. "Let me reassure you that I’m for substantial cuts in government spending, but they must be made wisely."

Nelson, who is the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s legislative branch subpanel, shepherded through an amendment last month that cut the Senate’s operating budget by 5 percent.