Another influential conservative group is warning legislators not to support the expected budget deal being hammered out by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan and Democratic Sen. Patty Murray.
Americans for Prosperity, an economic freedom group, said Monday that lawmakers should oppose any budget deal that violates the $967 billion spending cap for 2014 mandated by sequestration.
Reports coming out of the secret budget negotiations between Ryan and Murray indicate that a deal to prevent another government shutdown next year would increase next year’s discretionary spending to more than $1 trillion, blowing through the spending caps agreed to by both parties in the Budget Control Act.
“Now, Republicans should once again stand firm in upholding the modest sequestration spending cuts that both parties agreed to for the current fiscal year,” AFP president Tim Phillips said in a statement. “Otherwise, Congressional Republicans are joining liberal Democrats in breaking their word to the American people to finally begin reining in government over-spending that has left us over 17 trillion in debt.
“The American people demanded, and were promised, reasonable spending limits,” he said. “Politicians choosing to go back on their promise will be held accountable for their actions.”
AFP said it has issued a key vote alert telling lawmakers they oppose any budget deal that exceeds $967 billion in discretionary spending.
The proposed Ryan-Murray deal, which would fund the government past Jan. 15, would get rid of some sequester cuts and fund them with so-called revenue enhancements. The Washington Post reports that the deal could include “cuts to federal worker pensions and higher security fees for the nation’s airline passengers.”
The group’s opposition comes as conservatives are starting to speak out against the expected deal. The Daily Caller reported Monday that Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he cannot support a deal under these terms.
And conservative group Heritage Action also said Monday that they “cannot support a budget deal that would increase spending in the near-term for promises of woefully inadequate long-term reductions.”
A deal is expected to be announced sometime this week.