Budget numbers can be interpreted in many different ways. Money that was budgeted but not spent, and then cut, is still a cut, because unspent money always gets spent eventually by agencies. They don't give it back. Plus, these cuts permanently reduce some baselines. Most importantly, the 2011 budget that was approved is $40 billion under the President's request and constitutes only a 2% increase over FY2010. So while it may seem like there weren't any real spending cuts, spending was controlled pretty effectively this year. Of course, 2012 will see much bigger cuts. The President's own plan involves $70 billion in domestic discretionary cuts in the first year alone, so Democrats have no right to complain if the Republicans pass that much.