Republicans say they can shore up projected future shortages in those programs even with the larger planned tax cut. Hastert, meanwhile, was facing down potential opposition from a handful of GOP moderates. With Republicans holding a slim House majority, those moderates potentially could defeat the plan. According to sources present at a meeting between the moderates and Hastert, the speaker told the group he was putting his office on the line with the vote. Even with out the guarantee that there is enough support within its own ranks to pass the measure, the House Republican leadership Wednesday nonetheless pushed their package to the full chamber.
Republicans opposing the larger cut do so for a variety of reasons.
Some question the accuracy of projected budget surpluses that funding for the tax cut relies on. Others want the surplus money earmarked for other areas such as paying down public debt or providing more funds for Medicare and Social Security. But many of moderates complained the resolution had no teeth. This debate is about downsizing the power of Washington. The Clinton Administration and congressional Democrats remain united in their opposition of a large Republican tax cut, arguing it would jeopardize the long-term solvency of Social Security and Medicare, and that surplus funds that remain after those entitlement programs are shored up should be used to fund domestic spending in areas like education.