Calif. Republican emerges as leader of GOP budget hawks

By Erik Wasson - 05/20/12 05:00 PM ET, www.thehill.com

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) has emerged as a leader of deficit hardliners in the House and become a thorn in the side of GOP leaders.

While McClintock does not criticize other Republicans by name, he is clearly dissatisfied with the amount of spending cuts House Republicans have achieved since winning the majority in 2010.

"This government doesn't spend money unless the House authorizes it. We are more than a year into a period where we have controlled the House and we are a trillion dollars deeper in debt," he told The Hill in an interview. "The buck starts here. We can't blame the president."