Chip Taylor

Am I skeptical of the possibility of balancing the budget with spending cuts?

You bet I am. From the New York Times:

WASHINGTON, Friday, June 25 - After insisting for months that the federal budget deficit should be reduced by spending cuts rather than tax increases, House Republicans were blocked by a rebellion in their own ranks early Friday over a bill that would have imposed tough limits on spending.

Voting 286 to 146, the House defeated a bill that would have frozen or reduced spending on most discretionary programs outside of defense and domestic security, while leaving the way clear to make President Bush's tax cuts permanent.

...

House Republicans found themselves at odds with a powerful and turf-conscious group within their own party: members of the House Appropriations Committee, who complained that the spending limits would violate the Constitutional requirement for separation of powers between Congress and presidency.

Ah yes, the appropriators. They don't get and keep power by cutting spending.