Billions more in spending cuts dodged in House votes

The most dramatic proposal to cut spending came from Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), who proposed a $3.1 billion cut to all accounts other than those related to national security and defense. But his proposal was turned away in a 125-293 vote.

{mosads}Republicans split nearly down the middle on the Mulvaney proposal, as they have on similar recommendations to significantly trim spending. Republicans narrowly favored the amendment, and voted 125-110 as a party.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) proposed language cutting 1 percent of the spending in the bill, $321 million. But this was rejected by the House in a 157-261 vote.

Other members proposed specific cuts that were also turned away. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) put forward language to transfer $100 million from the Domestic Uranium Enrichment account to the spending reduction account, and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ind.) proposed eliminating funds for various regional commissions.

Each would have saved about $100 million, but both were rejected.

And, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) proposed a $87.5 million cut to bring the bill back to 2012 levels. But the House killed his amendment 144-274.

Two Democrats proposed spending cuts, including one that was accepted from Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who proposed eliminating $25 million in oil shale research and development. The House approved that measure 208-207, as 61 Republicans joined most Democrats in favor of the language.

Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) offered to strike $298 million from a nuclear weapons security account, but the House defeated that idea 138-281.

All told, the House left about $4 billion in spending in the bill in Wednesday votes. Earlier in the week, a similar split within the GOP led to the defeat of another $2.5 billion in cuts to the bill.

The House concluded amendment work on the bill Wednesday afternoon, and was expected to approve the final bill by the early evening.

Other amendment results from Wednesday follow here, from:

• Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.), to shift $17 million in the Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Account from the mixed oxide project to the Global Threat Reduction Initiative. Passed 328-89.

• Jackson Lee, to transfer $10 million from the Nuclear Security Administration – Weapons account to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account. Failed 157-260.

• Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), to prohibit funds for loan guarantees under the Energy Policy Act concerning nuclear and fossil projects offset by a $33 million cut in administrative costs. Failed 136-282.

• Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), to add $36 million for Nondefense Environmental Cleanup, offset by a cut to Departmental Administration and the Office of the Administrator. Passed 223-195.

• Loreta Sanchez (D-Calif.), to transfer $16 million from Departmental Administration to Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. Failed 182-237.

• Ben Luján (D-N.M.), to move $22 million from the Office of Administration to Defense Environmental Cleanup. Failed 174-244.

• Steve King (R-Iowa), to block enforcement of the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements. Failed 184-235.

• Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), to prevent funds from being used to plan or undertake sales or any other transfers of natural or low enriched uranium from the Department of Energy that combined exceed 1,917 metric tons of uranium as uranium hexafluoride equivalent in fiscal year 2013. Failed 114-302.