The Hill News

Republicans are learning quickly of the scrutiny they'll face for any perceived stray from their 2010 campaign-trail promises.

Democrats are trumpeting examples of behavior by the day-old Republican House that, they charge, represent backtracking or reversals from promises the GOP had made, particularly in its "Pledge to America."

The barbs being leveled represent the double-edged sword the party created by issuing the pledge and making other campaign-trail promises to win votes: the possibility that they would be measured against those promises in the future.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) spent a good deal of time in interviews Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, for instance, fending off the charge that the GOP had strayed from its campaign promise to cut $100 billion from the budget this year. The pledge said that rollbacks would save "at least $100 billion in the first year alone," though cuts now appear headed more toward the $50 billion range.

Republicans respond by saying that, since half the fiscal year will already have expired by the time they get a chance to handle the budget, they will only be able to cut so much. They said that cutting spending to 2008 levels is the most important goal.

"We're in a situation where we have no budget, and we're going to work hard to bring spending down to '08 levels," ! Cantor said on ABC. "We are going to accomplish mor! e than $ 100 billion in cuts over the term of this Congress."

Democrats also accuse Republicans of using the same strong-arm tactics the GOP had complained about during the healthcare debate to quickly push through legislation â€" in this case, repealing healthcare reform.

"They are cramming this bill down everyone's throats without any hearings, markups or discussion at the relevant committees. They are waiving all rules," said Vincent Morris, the communications director for Democrats on the House Rules Committee. "But hey, if you get tired of watching them break promises, you can always tune into C-SPAN and listen to their side ham-handedly try to own the Constitution."

Earlier this week, Republicans did post online the text of their very short bill to repeal healthcare reform, keeping a pledge to do so with every bill within 72 hours.

Still, Democrats are sure to level more complaints as the first few weeks of the new Congress unfold.! Republicans swept into office as Tea Party-tied reformers will likely face accusations they are shifting positions.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), for instance, put the heat on Republicans for voting down an amendment that House Democrats had offered that would have forced every lawmaker to disclose whether he or she receives government-sponsored healthcare through employment in Congress. Democrats have sought to highlight how Republicans who want to repeal healthcare reform are enjoying the fruits of a government-run health program.

“Yesterday, House Republicans chose to hide from the American people whether they would accept government healthcare even though they campaigned against it and have! made it their priority to repeal it for everyone else," said ! DCCC spo kesman Jesse Ferguson. "A handful of Republican members honored their pledge by refusing their congressional healthcare benefits, but the majority of Republican freshmen are the the worst kind of hypocrites â€" ones who look out for themselves instead of their constituents."