Orrin Hatch, Mark Udall back anti-appropriations committee in Senate

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Daily Caller:

In a major development on spending cuts, Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah and Democratic Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado are introducing a proposal for a new congressional committee focused only on eliminating duplicative and wasteful government spending.

Udall’s backing of the “anti-appropriations committee” is one of the most significant moves to embrace spending cuts by a moderate Democrat in the Senate and gives the proposal momentum and cover from potential critics, insiders say.

Hatch has both the incentive and the skill to pull off passage of the new committee, proponents hope. He could face a challenge from the right in securing the Republican nomination in Utah for the 2012 cycle, and is known for his knack at reaching across the aisle.

“This is a huge step forward,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform and a key backer of the proposal. “Hatch has a history of being able to get Democrats. Udall – this is the kind of thing that could make his career as a moderate.”