House GOP's Spending Record: So Far, So Good

Republicans have controlled the House for little over a month, but so far the record is clear: The new GOP majority is living up to its promise to cut spending.

In the first four weeks of the 112th Congress, Republicans have passed legislation that cuts spending by $656 billion without a single spending increase.

The conservative Republican Study Committee’s Money Monitor, the only document tracking the cost of bills as they pass the House, has the data. It shows:

• $541 billion in mandatory spending cuts.
• $115 billion in authorized spending cuts (subject to appropriation).
• $770 billion in tax cuts.

Those figures stand in stark contrast to the previous Congress, when the Democrat-controlled House enacted $682 billion of new spending in just the first four weeks.

Of course, Republicans face a high hurdle to enact many of their cuts with Democrats controlling the Senate and President Obama in the White House. But that hasn’t stopped them from trying.

The GOP’s cuts include repeal of Obamacare and YouCut-related bills such as the Stop the Over Printing Act and elimination of the presidential campaign fund.

Expect more next week when Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the RSC, will offer several amendments to the fiscal 2011 continuing resolution. Conservatives maintain the GOP should cut a full $100 billion in non-security spending. The proposal released last week by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) includes $58 billion in discretionary spending, plus another $16 billion in security spending.