House Republicans anticipate victory in close [Budget] vote today

[NewJerseyDem]

http://www.thehill.com/news/032504/budget.aspx

Top Republican lawmakers say they expect to win a close vote on their budget resolution today on the House floor, and will do so without the drama that has characterized previous votes on major legislation.

Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who has been quarterbacking the effort to pass the budget blueprint, told The Hill: “The list has grown shorter of members who have issues with this vote.”

Cantor said he expected passage to be less difficult, first, because House leaders listened to lawmakers’ concerns during whipping and did their best to address them and, second, because in an election year GOP lawmakers would be under intense pressure to support the measure that will highlight differences between the two parties.

Segments of the Democratic caucus, including the Congressional Black Caucus and the centrist Blue Dogs, plan to offer substitute measures. Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C.), the ranking member on the Budget Committee, will offer the principal Democratic alternative. But all are expected to be defeated easily.

[NewJerseyDem]

1. This isn't good

The GOP budget seems awful from what I can tell from the floor debate today. The deficit will just continue to climb and climb under the GOPers. House conservatives don't care about spending as long as the budget gives them some tax cuts they will vote. Most moderates seem also to do whatever the GOP leadership tell them to. However, Mike Castle of Delaware has indicated he will vote no.

Here's the good news though. It appears that every democrat will vote no on the budget. It isn't certain yet, but the democratic leadership thinks they will have complete unity in the democratic party on this one.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. I wonder if Jim Leach and Ron Paul will vote no too?

Both of them have been very responisble and unapoligetic in bucking
the party line.

[NewJerseyDem]

4. Ron Paul will certainly vote no

He opposes pretty much all government spending so I doubt he has ever voted for a federal budget. Leach is probably the most likely other member to vote no, however he did vote for the budget last year. Nancy Johnson voted against the house version last year so she might be one to watch.

[snippy]

2. If they do not have the votes they will not bring it to the floor.