Hannity to GOP: Let Dems Shut Govt Down if Necessary

Some Republicans in Congress are concerned that they will pay the political price if the government shuts down. But Fox News commentator Sean Hannity said on his show Tuesday that Republicans should stick to their guns on budget cuts even if that means a shutdown, The Hill reports.

Sean Hannity (AP photo)

Republicans "have to be willing to let the Democrats shut it down because, otherwise, they are going to be held hostage as we debate real cuts," he said. That view is shared by Republican fiscal hawks who don’t want to settle for anything less than the $61 billion in spending cuts for fiscal 2011 already approved by the House.

Republicans can’t just wait for their 2012 budget proposal with $6 trillion in cuts, Hannity said.

"If the Republicans don't hold the line on [$61 billion] . . . how are they going to stand firm on $6.2 trillion?"