Alvin S. Felzenberg 9/11 Commission Spokesman, Book Author and Professor :
The freshmen are being realistic. The GOP promised to cut spending and deeply. Every day they delay allows lobbyists for special interests to buttonhole members outside of public view to explain why their share of the non-defense "discretionary" budget is important, does not cost that much over all, and ought to be spared. If the Republicans cannot make a decent attempt to cut here, how are they going to handle entitlements?
At the same time, Speaker Boehner has a point when he argues, that each continuing resolution cuts more than the previous ones. The freshmen need to give him room. And speaking of Boehner, from what I read of the ruckus his restoration of scholarship funds to allow D.C. students to attend Catholic schools is causing in some quarters, I would say it is the Democratic base that is suffering division and not the Republican one.
Slowly, but steadily, the budget cutters are making headway. The president is free to read about their progress during his Latin American travels. Anyone look at the budget for Air Force One lately?