Did I Miss Something?

Apparently when I was not looking, Congressional Republicans defeated government waste, at least according to Tom DeLay:

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said yesterday that Republicans have done so well in cutting spending that he declared an "ongoing victory," and said there is simply no fat left to cut in the federal budget.

Mr. DeLay was defending Republicans' choice to borrow money and add to this year's expected $331 billion deficit to pay for Hurricane Katrina relief. Some Republicans have said Congress should make cuts in other areas, but Mr. DeLay said that doesn't seem possible.

"My answer to those that want to offset the spending is sure, bring me the offsets, I'll be glad to do it. But nobody has been able to come up with any yet," the Texas Republican told reporters at his weekly briefing.

Asked if that meant the government was running at peak efficiency, Mr. DeLay said, "Yes, after 11 years of Republican majority we've pared it down pretty good."

I am not sure how much I can harp on the pork in the highway funding bill enough, especially light of these ridiculous comments.

Congressman Flake from Arizona at least notes that "This is hardly a well-oiled machine...There's a lot of fat to trim. ... I wonder if we've been serving in the same Congress."

The Republican Party clearly needs to be reminded of its principles, of smaller government and less federal spending. Becuase the Majority Leader's comments are the antithesis of a traditional, fiscally conservative mindset.