As is pretty common these days, conservatives are ticked off big time. The cause is the topline agreement on spending forged between House Speaker Johnson and Senate Leader Schumer, a deal apparently now on life support. Despite a minuscule majority, conservatives say they want even lower spending, preferably leading soon to a balanced budget or even a surplus. That’s what they say, but do they all mean it? Count me doubtful.

The Johnson-Schumer deal leaves non-defense appropriations essentially flat year-over-year while defense spending rises about 3%. After inflation, defense spending will fall 2% to 3% in ‘real’ terms, which sounds like a modest win for conservatives, but then why did Schumer say, “It’s a good deal for Democrats and the country”? Probably because spending has already soared so far in recent years that a pause is a painless price to pay to stop this year’s budget merry-go-round. That would also explain why conservatives are still mad.

Republicans using classic language about balanced budgets, paying the bills, etc is music to many ears. Yet, one wonders, if given the chance, would these same Republicans walk the........

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