House GOP Okays Deeper Spending Cuts, Dems Appalled

Republicans in the US House of Representatives on Thursday adopted spending targets for the next fiscal year below the level agreed by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Democratic President Joe Biden, setting up a fight with the Democratic-led Senate that could again risk a government shutdown, David Morgan reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: Democrats say that the lower levels renege on the debt-ceiling agreement. Republicans counter that the deal only capped spending.

The House Appropriations Committee voted 33-27 along party lines to adopt a discretionary spending level of $1.47 trillion for fiscal year 2024, which starts on Oct. 1, about $120 billion below the $1.59 trillion set out in the debt ceiling bill negotiated by Biden and McCarthy.

The targets would maintain defense spending at the $866 billion level agreed in the debt ceiling legislation. But the plan would slash spending for the environment, public assistance and foreign aid.

It would also increase spending for border security, drug enforcement, and countering China.

Democrats say that the lower levels renege on the debt-ceiling agreement. Republicans counter that the deal only capped spending.

"The debt ceiling bill set a ceiling, not a floor, for fiscal year 2024 bills. The allocations before us reflect the change members on my side of the aisle want to see," said Appropriations Committee chair Kay Granger.

Congress will try to pass 12 appropriations bills before October, covering everything from law enforcement to scientific research.

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