Rep. Chuck Fleischmann told Newsmax Tuesday that eliminating all discretionary spending would not balance the federal budget.
"I don't think Congress has done a good job explaining to the American people where we're spending the money," Fleischmann said on "The Chris Salcedo Show."
The Tennessee Republican said discretionary spending, which is managed through annual appropriations, accounts for roughly 25% of the federal budget. The remaining 75% is mandatory spending, which automatically recurs without annual approval, he said.