Conservatives lose effort for deeper spending cuts

[February 19, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Republican-run House has said "no" to the most conservative members who wanted to cut even more than the GOP's budget-cutting bill.

The vote Friday was a rare setback for conservatives and their tea party supporters, who were so important to the GOP's election success last fall. By a 281-147 vote, the House refused to cut $22 billion more in domestic programs. The overall bill would cut $60 billion from federal programs in the remaining seven months of the government's current budget year. The defeated proposal would have trimmed 5.5 percent more from domestic programs and 11 percent more from Congress' own budget. Defense and other security programs would have been exempted. Democrats voted no overwhelmingly -- and Republicans who also voted that way said the plan went too far. [Associated Press] Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.