Democrat: House budget 'Romney plan on steroids'

[March 18, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The top Democrat on the House Budget Committee says the Republicans' proposed budget is "the Romney plan on steroids."

Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland on Sunday said the GOP budget outline is an augmented version of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's proposals. Romney's running mate, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, offered the GOP plan last week. It's largely a symbolic gesture unlikely to pass the Senate, where Democrats have the majority.

Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California says the Ryan proposal balances the budget and would help the economy to grow. The No. 3 Republican in the House says the longer Congress waits to pass a budget, the more debt adds up.

Both lawmakers spoke to NBC's "Meet the Press."

[Associated Press]

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