WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Republicans will propose new cuts in defense and security spending this week, signaling they are prepared to address politically sensitive areas to tame the ballooning federal deficit, a leading congressman said on Thursday.
Representative Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, also said the Republican leadership has invited House members to find ways to exceed the $32 billion in spending cuts announced by the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.
President Barack Obama already has endorsed a Pentagon proposal to cut $78 billion from the Pentagon's core $550 billion-plus spending plan from 2012 to 2016.