House budget leader drops plan to cut pay increases

As he wraps up his meetings with House Republicans, Budget Chairman John Kasich, R-Ohio, has dropped about $54 billion in proposed cuts from the spending blueprint he is writing, one House Republican said today. The proposed cuts included a provision that would have adjusted how future federal pay increases are calculated.

Kasich started with some $154 billion in proposed cuts and that number has dropped to "around $100 billion," the GOP member said, adding that the eventual figure "could tweak either way."

The GOP member said the $54 billion comes from a variety of restorations, including funding for the space station, and some agriculture programs. The provision dealing with federal employee salary increases was dropped because "most members didn't want to get into a fight with them," the Republican said.

Kasich remains committed to including the elimination of the Commerce and Energy departments in the budget, the GOP member said.

"This is the way we did the ICC," the legislator said, referring to elimination of the Interstate Commerce Commission, which Republicans proposed eliminating for several years before it was abolished. "Eventually, it gets credibility and people understand," the House member said. "It gets social acceptability."

The Republican added that Kasich and his supporters are now concentrating on "how to get to 218," adding that they do not expect to gain any Democratic votes for their budget plan.

Kasich still would like to mark up the budget resolution next week, the Republican said, adding that there are "rumors" that some GOP members would like to put that off until after the Memorial Day recess.

Meanwhile, Kasich is to finish his meetings with GOP members today, a Budget Committee aide said, adding that he has held "at least a dozen meetings." Asked about changes to the budget plan, the aide said, "It is a work in progress."