Even though they have Democrats on the defensive in many ways in the budget debate right now, more conservative GOP lawmakers are saying they won't back a 3-week stop gap budget, arguing deeper cuts are needed immediately.
"I can’t support another stopgap measure knowing that Democrats will use it to run out the clock on real spending reform and protect their unaffordable pet projects," said Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA), who blamed Democrats and the White House for not cutting a deal on a long term budget.
“Americans sent us here to deal with big problems in bold ways," said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who heads the more conservative Republican Study Group in the House.
"We need swift action to deal with spending for the rest of this year. We need to stop sending taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood, and we need to defund ObamaCare," Jordan added, as he announced he would also vote 'No' on the 3-week stop gap budget that has $6 billion in cuts.
The idea of some Republican lawmakers is simple - it's time to put the heat on Democrats on a variety of spending and policy items, or risk a government shutdown.
While Republicans have been able to squeeze out $10 billion in savings with two short term budgets, it's clear the rank-and-file grumbling is putting some heat on Republican leaders, as on Monday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) said he hoped this would be the final stop gap budget.
This plan would fund the government through April 8.
We'll see how many Republicans decide to register a protest vote. The first 2-week stop gap budget received over 300 votes in the House and over 90 in the Senate.
As for the Senate, also joining the ranks of Republicans opposed to the 3-week temporary budget was Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), whose election was hailed by many Tea Party activists.
Rubio joined in ripping Democrats, charging that their failure to offer a realistic long term deal - including cutbacks - is not laying the groundwork for a budget deal.
"Democrats’ unwillingness to engage on this issue is leading us closer to a catastrophic debt spiral that will irreversibly damage our government, our economy and ultimately our country," wrote Rubio on redstate.com.
Unless there is some major mutiny today, this bill will scoot through the House and then get through the Senate. But if enough Republicans vote 'No,' Democrats might not save this stop gap bill.
Really, this is a dream type of possibility for the Democrats, a battle between GOP leaders and Tea Party elements causing budget troubles.
Stay tuned.
