Fellow Dems shoot down fiscal hawks - TheHill.com

Fellow Dems shoot down fiscal hawks - TheHill.com: "Four House Democrats who have proposed significant spending cuts were chastised at a recent caucus meeting for targeting programs senior appropriators had deemed vital, according to lawmakers and aides.

Reps. Gary Peters (Mich.), John Adler (N.J.), Jim Himes (Conn.) and Peter Welch (Vt.) introduced an amendment to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development spending bill that would cut a dozen programs — totaling $1.4 billion — that had been added on top of President Obama’s initial budget request.

It was an effort to target a few government programs to chip away at a massive budget deficit — just as House leaders, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), have ordered committee heads to do.

But instead of winning praise, the four Democrats were taken to task — and eventually withdrew their amendment.

According to multiple participants at the Wednesday caucus meeting, House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) strenuously objected to the measure, saying it took direct aim at items added by appropriators geared toward stimulating the economy.

“Obey had an absolutely out-of-body experience over this,” one Democrat said.