WASHINGTON – House Republican leaders on Wednesday unveiled a wide swath of spending cuts but fell short of GOP promises to slice $100 billion, creating a political challenge for House Speaker John Boehner as he struggles to unite his majority in advance of next week’s vote.

Conservative lawmakers, including many tea party-inspired newcomers, see the leadership proposal as inadequate, despite substantial hits to longtime GOP targets including the Environmental Protection Agency, community policing and the arts.

“It’s not enough,” said freshman Rep. James Lankford, R-Okla.

Already this week, Boehner struggled in trying to lead a diverse, emboldened GOP majority when a coalition of newcomers and veteran conservatives joined Democrats to block an extension of terror surveillance legislation, seen by many as an overreach of government authority. Full story.

On the list of programs to be eliminated:

• Police hiring grants – $298 million • High speed rail – $1 billion

• Family planning – $317 million • Corporation for Public Broadcasting – $531 million    

Thoughts?    

---

---