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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 4 april 2018

Facing heat at home, GOP leaders may rescind some spending

By LISA MASCARO
AP Congressional Corre-
spondent
WASHINGTON (AP) — As
Republicans run into a buzz
saw of conservative criticism
over a deficit-expanding new
budget, GOP leaders and the
White House are looking for
ways to undo the damage by
allowing President Donald
Trump to rescind some of the
spending he signed into law
just 10 days ago.
Rolling back the funds would
be a highly unusual move and
could put some lawmakers
in the potentially uncomfort-
able position of having to vote
for specific spending opposed
by a president from their
party. But it would also offer
Republicans a way to save
face amid the backlash over
the bill that conservatives,
and Trump himself, complain
gives too much money for
Democratic priorities. Trump
has been talking with House
Majority Leader Kevin Mc- In this Sept. 27, 2017, file photo, a early morning runner crosses in front of the U.S. Capitol as he passes the flags circling the
Carthy, R-Calif., about the Washington Monument in Washington.
plan over the past couple of Associated Press
days, according to an aide to transportation, child care and Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said Congressional Budget and Im- and domestic spending. Ryan
the House leader who spoke other domestic programs in he encountered a finger-wag- pound Control Act. It allows and Trump have not yet talk-
on condition of anonymity to a compromise with Demo- ging voter back home almost the White House to propose ed this week, an aide to the
discuss the private talks. It is crats that Trump derided as a as soon as he stepped off rescinding funds and sets a speaker said, but likely will by
not clear how widely the idea “waste” and “giveaways.” the airplane. Fox News host 45-day clock for the House week’s end.
has been embraced by other “People are mad as hell about Sean Hannity asked, “What and Senate to vote. Congress Voting, though, could be dif-
top Republicans, including it and mad as hell that they happened to the Republican could simply ignore the presi- ficult, even for fiscally con-
House Speaker Paul Ryan or put the president in that situ- Party?” after Trump signed dent’s request and keep the servative Republicans, since
Senate Majority Leader Mitch ation — that he sign the bill or the bill. funds in place. Sparks didn’t Trump’s targets may be popu-
McConnell, whose offices de- shut the government down,” “Republicans should be specify how much spending lar projects or programs back
clined to discuss it. “There are said Amy Kremer, a founder ashamed of themselves,” he could be rescinded or in what home, said Gordon Gray, the
conversations right now,” said of the tea party and co-chair- added. In some ways, the re- categories. director of Fiscal Policy at the
Matt Sparks, a spokesman for man of Women for Trump. scission proposal is as close as But Trump would likely seek center-right American Action
McCarthy. “The administra- Kremer said Republicans in Trump can get to the line-item to focus on domestic spend- Forum, who notes the rescis-
tion and Congress and McCar- Congress have lost sight of the veto, which he called on Con- ing he has attacked in recent sion tool is not as popular as
thy are talking about it.” voters who propelled them to gress to enact even though tweets. Trump has been par- it was when introduced in the
The idea emerged as lawmak- the majority on an agenda of the Supreme Court decided ticularly upset the package Nixon era more than 40 years
ers get hammered back home fiscal restraint. “They are no in 1998 that it would violate did not include $25 billion ago.
for the $1.3 trillion spending better than the Democrats,” the authority the Constitution he sought for the border wall Passage would not be cer-
package that, while beef- she said. Lawmakers home on gives Congress on legislation. with Mexico, even after the tain, especially in the Senate,
ing up funds for the military, spring recess are feeling the The idea centers on a rarely bill burst through previously where Republicans hold a
also increases spending on brunt of the criticism. Rep. used provision of the 1974 set budget caps for military slim 51-49 majority.q