Sen Alexander Fights Against Discretionary Spending Cuts

Link

The arguments have gotten so pointed that Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) wore a flak jacket to a Republican lunch meeting a few weeks ago.

He said he would don the protective gear after Rep. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), an outspoken conservative, blasted him in a meeting for arguing that Congress had already made substantial reductions in discretionary spending.

The clash wasn’t fueled by personal animosity, as Alexander and Coburn have a good relationship. But there is a serious policy disagreement between the two over whether to cut more from the discretionary side of the spending ledger.