Cantor suggests House GOP open to sequester compromise

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor suggested Sunday that congressional Republicans are open to a compromise to end the deep, undiscerning cut to the federal budget known as sequester, but said the deal would require Democrats agreeing to entitlement cuts.

The Virginia Republican’s statement on “Fox News Sunday” knocks down criticism that his party wanted the cuts and is determined to keep them when Congress returns next month to negotiate a budget deal before the September 30 deadline.

“It’s a default mechanism,” Cantor said about the sequester cuts, which kicked in this spring after Washington failed to agree on a more measured approach. “It’s not the best solution.”

However, Cantor’s apparent signal that Republicans are open to a deal is not expected to ease fears about a failed compromise and potential October 1 government shutdown, considering President Obama has signaled his unwillingness to further cut entitlements, which include Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

“We’ve always said the president can join us,” Cantor said. “We shouldn’t be for a government shutdown. We hope we will find common ground.”

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