GOP APPROVES PLAN TO AX THE BLACK CAUCUS

House Republican members moved Tuesday to cut off all funds for 28 Congressional alliances, including the Congressional Black Caucus. The GOP's move must be approved by the Committee on House Oversight and will also terminate the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. "I'm an equal opportunity terminator," said Rep. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today. Under the plan approved at a meeting of House Republican members, the caucuses could continue to exist if they are funded directly by the office budgets of the individual members. The action would save $5 million and mean a reduction of 96 taxpayer-paid caucus staff members, the Republicans said. Coming up: cuts of up to a third of the 2,200 staffers now working for congressional committees.