WASHINGTON, March 9 (UPI) -- House Republicans proposed a $2.57 trillion 2006 budget Wednesday that faces tough going during the coming week.
The proposal has nearly $18 billion in additional cuts in mandatory federal spending not proposed by President Bush -- who requested $51 billion in such cuts over five years. It also includes much of his proposed tax cuts in a total tax package of $106 billion, half of which would be protected from being pulled out later and $6 billion more than Bush requested.
In addition, the proposal includes $50 billion beyond what the administration has proposed spending on military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan so far this year, and a one-year extension of the alternative minimum tax exemption.
The measure also includes a 2.1 percent increase in discretionary spending to $843 billion.
The House is expected to approve the measure next week, but one problem is a potential revolt by a coalition of House conservatives lead by Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., who wamt the budget resolution linked with serious budget enforcement provisions to ensure the federal deficit is reduced.
Once approved, it will have to be reconciled with a competing Senate version that is expected to have only $70 billion in protected tax cuts and about $40 billion in mandatory savings.
