[TheRealVille]

Everyone knew Republicans would try to defund President Obama's signature health-care overhaul. They've made that clear since taking over the House majority. And it was no surprise that they would strip federal money from National Public Radio and Planned Parenthood. That's been on the to-do list.
But cutting funds for border security and disaster first-responders? New military equipment? Farm assistance programs?

"I don't think the Senate will pass this cut," Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), chairman of the Budget Committee, said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "We will have to negotiate. Look, we're not looking for a government shutdown. But at the same time, we're also not looking at rubber stamping these really high, elevated spending levels that Congress blew through the joint two years ago."

With both chambers in recess until the week of Feb. 28, Senate Democrats are mounting a public relations blitz this week highlighting specific cuts in the House bill that may be unpopular with the general public, such as cancer research funding. Democrats are also seizing on some line-item cuts to paint Republicans as "schizophrenic" in their "indiscriminate budget cutting," a senior Democratic leadership aide said.

For instance, the bill would cut at least $272 million in border security and immigration enforcement, including fencing and surveillance technology. A Democratic analysis shows this would scale back the number of agents patrolling the Mexican border from 21,370 to 20,500.

These cuts won't pass the Senate, so maybe we are heading for a shut down. It also looks like the Republicans are cutting their own throats in this.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...id=topnews