[Mb-civic] GOP Leaders Try to Soothe Conservatives - Washington Post

[William Swiggard]

GOP Leaders Try to Soothe Conservatives
Drive Planned to Defuse Ire Over Spending

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 27, 2005; Page A04

Squeezed between a conservative clamor for spending cuts and the rising 
cost of hurricane relief, Republican congressional leaders will respond 
this week with a public relations offensive to win over angry 
conservatives -- but no substantive changes in budget policy.

Republican lawmakers and leadership aides conceded that the wholesale 
budget cuts envisioned by House conservatives are not being 
contemplated; the Senate is moving toward approving a temporary 
expansion of Medicaid for hurricane survivors, estimated to cost $9 
billion. Nor are GOP leaders considering tax increases.

And Hurricane Rita's blow to a politically sensitive region of Texas 
could add more pressure to spend.

"Many communities, faith-based entities and the state of Texas have 
drained assets to save lives and help with the enormous multi-state 
national emergency, and they will need reimbursement to avoid massive 
financial failures," warned Rep. Louie Gohmert, a freshman Republican 
whose hard-hit East Texas district was drawn with the help of House 
Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) to take it from Democratic control.

Since Hurricane Katrina struck Aug. 29, Congress has approved spending 
bills and tax cuts worth nearly $71 billion. An additional $5 billion in 
housing, education and small-business assistance cleared the Senate, 
even before the Medicaid bill was considered. A united Louisiana 
congressional delegation is seeking $250 billion more.

Republican leaders say the overall cost could be $100 billion to $200 
billion. Although mindful of criticism, the leaders contend that such 
one-time expenditures -- albeit huge -- should not harm 
deficit-reduction efforts.

Prodded by conservatives, President Bush and GOP leaders have said they 
are willing to offset those costs with spending cuts. But realistically, 
the political will does not exist to vote through the cuts that have 
been proposed, said House leadership aides and sources, who spoke on the 
condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Nor have 
Republican leaders given serious thought to reversing course on tax 
cuts, lawmakers said yesterday.

"I don't see any change in fiscal policy," said Rep. Christopher Shays 
(R-Conn.), a former vice chairman of the Budget Committee.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/26/AR2005092601410.html
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