House Republicans votes to cut more than $60 billion from federal budget

The Republican controlled House of Representatives voted to cut more than $60 billion from the federal budget on Saturday.

The bill proposed severe cuts over the next seven months in almost every government program, including domestic programs, foreign aid and some military projects.

The vote, 235 to 189, was a Republican victory aimed to make larger budget cuts than the Obama Administration intended with the 2012 fiscal year proposed budget. However, the White House and the Democratic controlled Senate said they would not support the cuts that were approved by the House.

The House package would “undermine and damage our capacity to create jobs and expand the economy” while unemployment remains high, said Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to The New York Times.

“This week, for the first time in many years, the people’s House was allowed to work its will — and the result was one of the largest spending cuts in American history,” said Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) in a press release. “We will not stop here in our efforts to cut spending, not when we’re broke and Washington’s spending binge is making it harder to create jobs.”

Democrats said that they would negotiate cuts for the remainder of the fiscal year.

“Democrats believe we should make smart cuts — cuts that target waste and excess, not slash the programs that keep us safe and keep the economy growing,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), in a press release.

However, with Congress in recess, party leaders agree that there is not enough time to create a compromise before the stopgap measure funding the government expires on March 4. Democrats are proposing an extension to the stopgap funding to prevent a government shutdown from happening. Yet, Boehner said that he would not agree to an extension without cutting some spending.

“Closing our government would mean our men and women in uniform wouldn’t receive their paychecks and veterans would lose critical benefits,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in a press conference. “Seniors wouldn’t receive their Social Security checks, and essential functions from food safety inspection to airport security could come to a halt.”

While the Senate controls the final outcome, Senate Republicans said they support the same ideals as the House, but are not willing to make such large cuts. The Senate majority is Democrat.

“It is my sincere hope that all the parties will remain reasonable as we seek to fund the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year,” said Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI).

“Neither house of Congress is in a position to dictate terms to the other, so I remain hopeful that we will come to a sensible accommodation.”