yes, there has. Some of them would rather cut taxes, others pay off public debt. Their steadfastness is not always of the utmost. Right now the tax cut/lockbox bill if passed (it won't) would put a severe strain on defense. To some extent, it supported because it won't pass, possibly reflecting some appetite for defense spending.
Here's an unappealing choice for you. Suppose the market tanks and unemployment goes up to nine percent. Would you reject a defense bill that reduced UE by several million people, in favor of fiscal austerity? You can say there are better alternatives, and of course there are, but they are not always available.
mbs