Latest On Budget

From The Hill:

Congressional Republican leaders are split over how much backing they will give to President Bush in his fiscal fight with the Democrats.

The House GOP, keen to reconnect with what many regard as lost Republican principles of fiscal restraint and small government, has supported the president’s attack on Democratic spending plans. In the Senate, however, GOP leaders have mixed feelings. ...

The proposal is a compromise floated by Democrats who cut their spending proposals [from $22 billion over the President's recommended budget to $11 billion over] in order to reach a bipartisan agreement.

The highest-ranking House Republican leaders, Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) and Minority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.), have slammed the peace offering.
...

[Senator Minority Leader Mitch] McConnellm has taken a more circumspect stance.

At a press conference Monday, he expressed interest in seeing an omnibus bill passed.

“Obviously we don’t have any consuming desire to be here until Christmas Eve,” he said. “We’re working on it.”