Republicans for more war, more tax cuts for the rich, and more starving [View all]

[n2doc]

By Lisa Mascaro
May 10, 2012, 11:44 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- House Republicans approved a sweeping package of budget cuts to food stamps, Meals on Wheels and other domestic programs -- while sparing the Pentagon -- in an election-year showcase of party priorities.

Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the legislation, which is expected to stall in the Senate, but House Speaker John A. Boehner's decision to call a vote gives the GOP an opportunity to highlight its agenda and attack President Obama's efforts to reduce the deficit. The bill was approved on party lines, 218-199.

The legislation is "literally taking food out of the mouth of babies” while continuing tax breaks for the wealthy, said Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the minority leader. The cuts would replace across-the-board reductions to both defense and non-security programs that had been agreed to as part of last summer's debt-ceiling deal with the White House.

Republicans countered they were tackling the nation's deficit problems while preventing steep military cuts that Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has said would be devastating.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-house-republicans-pass-sweeping-domestic-cuts-spare-pentagon-20120510,0,1596901.story