Boehner appears open to lower spending cap in budget

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday signaled he is open to cutting the 2013 budget deeper than the spending level set by the August debt-ceiling deal.

Cutting more from the budget would complicate passage of the 12 annual appropriations bills later this year because the Senate intends to follow the August deal’s framework.

In an interview to be broadcast on Fox Business Network, Boehner was asked whether increasing the cuts would violate the debt-ceiling agreement.

“I don't really think that's the answer,” he replied.

Boehner indicated that the August debt deal is a cap, not a floor, and that spending could be cut more deeply.

“We can certainly do more,” he said. “But we're having a conversation with our members about how to proceed on the budget. Our members understand how difficult our fiscal situation is with regard to our government, and they're serious about taking action to reduce the budget deficit and to reduce our debt.”

The House GOP is in a tense debate over whether to use the debt-ceiling deal’s $1.047 trillion spending level in the 2013 budget resolution or whether to use a lower number. 

The debt-deal number is backed by appropriators who want budget cutters to focus more on entitlement spending. Three appropriators on the Budget Committee have the power to block a budget from being voted out of committee.

Some conservatives on the Budget Committee want cap spending at $931 billion.

---