Quote:

---

House Republicans attempted to wrap up their drive to cut billions of dollars from the current year's budget, considering a slew of amendments to legislation that would slash government spending.

Among the items approved Friday, lawmakers approved amendments that would block all federal funding for Planned Parenthood and bar any federal agency from spending money on implementing the new health care law for the remainder of the current fiscal year.

Earlier this week, Boehner raised eyebrows when he predicted budget cuts could cost some federal jobs, adding, "so be it."

However, on Thursday he backed off the tough love stance.

"Listen, I don't want anyone to lose their job whether they are a federal employee or not. But come on! We're broke!," Boehner said. "We've got to make tough decisions and the American people sent their representatives here to Washington to make tough decisions on their behalf.

The White House has vowed to veto the budget if it contains the deep cuts that House Republican are proposing.

Although the 2011 budget up for debate only covers the next seven months, March through September, the clock is ticking to pass something soon. The current stop-gap measure that's keeping the lights on at federal agencies expires March 4.

If lawmakers fail to pass a budget -- or at least another stop-gap measure -- by March 4, the federal government could be shut down like it was during the GOP showdown with the Clinton administration in 1995.

Many amendments were aimed at undoing White House priorities, such as the Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to cut greenhouse gases.

---