House GOP balks at defense cuts

[Elmore Furth]

Can the GOP swallow stuff that gaggs them?

In the case of the Senate, Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who also participated in the Biden talks, is a strong defense advocate. And even at last Thursday’s White House meeting with Obama, Kyl pushed back against administration demands for deeper cuts from the military.

Yet here the Republican finds himself matched against Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who has impeccable defense credentials, earning the Medal of Honor for his combat service in World War II and spending decades overseeing the military budget.

“You have scores of Republicans willing to cut defense that wouldn’t have done it just six or eight months ago,” said Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). “Republicans think we have to have some votes on defense in order to be taken seriously on the other stuff.”

House GOP balks at defense cuts