GOP's list of cuts includes familiar targets

House Republican moderates and conservatives Friday presented colleagues with a list of $27 billion in cuts they said can pay for supplemental spending-but GOP members conceded it may be too late to push their position. The cuts range from a $1.7 billion cut in welfare programs to encouraging sale of the power marketing associations and eliminating tobacco crop insurance. The list includes many cuts that have been proposed and rejected in the past.

"I thought it was very well received," a key moderate, Rep. Rick Lazio, R-N.Y., said following a meeting of the Republican Conference. He added, "In the end, it's going to be a leadership decision based on the reality of the situation at the time of the vote."

House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., conceded, "It's very hard to do it," adding that if Senate opposition can be eliminated, House Republicans would like to offset the spending. Even conservative Rep. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., conceded the cuts probably will not be approved. "I knew it wasn't going to get enacted, but that doesn't mean we can't try," he said.

During the next two weeks, the House is expected to consider a supplemental spending package for defense, the year 2000 computer problem and embassy safety. Also, the Agriculture appropriations bill is likely to include supplemental funds to assist farmers. The coalition of House GOP members has said they want the cuts to be offset, but many appropriators have said the funding should be declared an emergency and not subject to spending caps.

The $19 billion in five-year entitlement cuts includes saving $1.2 billion through FHA reforms, raising $2.5 billion through airport slot charges, $6.6 billion by encouraging the sale of the power marketing associations, $3.1 billion by accepting the Clinton administration's Medicare and Medicaid savings, $1.1 billion by terminating federal crop insurance for tobacco producers, terminating the market assistance program and several other reforms.

The $8 billion in discretionary savings includes saving $1 billion by swapping land rather than purchasing it in land acquisitions, $3.4 billion by funding law enforcement programs at the requested levels through 2000, $1.5 billion through changes in building purchases and repairs, $1.1 billion by consolidating public health programs into a block grant and $186 million by rescinding spending that President Clinton previously line item vetoed.