Ryan: Spending Caps Aren't Enough

The Hill reports:

The administration must agree to actual spending cuts to win GOP support for raising the debt ceiling, a key Republican said Thursday.

Speaking before the first round of deficit talks between Vice President Biden and lawmakers, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said spending caps will not be enough to get a deal.

“Caps in and of themselves, alone, I don't think our conference would accept that,” Ryan said. He said the GOP wants a “down payment” on spending cuts.

Ryan said Republicans are “under no delusions” they will get everything they want in negotiations with Biden, but will begin the talks using the House-approved 2012 budget as a starting point. He reiterated what he has said for weeks — that getting a “single or a double” instead of a home run is the goal of the talks.

The House budget, prepared by Ryan, cuts $5.8 trillion over 10 years and turns Medicare into a type of voucher system.