Sen. Barack Obama (WND photo) |
The chief of the president's Office of Management and Budget says Congress appears to be awaiting "President Obama" for some budgeting decisions, hoping for a better result than they would get from President Bush.
Jim Nussle, head of the OMB, today was discussing the farm bill and a war supplemental appropriations plan at a White House press briefing.
Nussle was critical of Congress' performance, saying, "There are those who are suggesting we do need domestic spending – instead of accelerating the appropriations process for this coming year, instead it appears that Senate leaders, in particular, and even some in the House, are making the strategic decision to punt all of those appropriation bills until next year."
He continued, "So if the need is so urgent for spending, domestic spending, why not get your work done? Why not work on the appropriation bills instead of basically punting that until the middle of next year – which factually or technically they will be doing by waiting for what they believe is a Democrat president to make a better deal with?"
He said that suggests the issue is not about domestic spending, but is about "trying to hold the troops hostage in order to get a few pet projects."
Then he responded to the question: "What makes you think that they're punting until next year on the appropriation?"
"First of all, no appropriations bills are making it through the process. It appears through all of their announcements that they have made that – or many of the announcements that they have made that they believe that they might have a better deal with the next president. I assume they mean a President Obama. That being the case, they've decided instead to go for a continuing resolution strategy and wait for a better deal," he said.
He didn't correct the reference to "President Obama" or elaborate, so Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House, then asked, "I believe I heard you mention the words 'President Obama.' Does this mean the Bush administration is contending there is no chance for a President Hillary?"
"You know, as soon as that word came out of my mouth I thought, I should have made sure I attributed that to Sen. [Harry] Reid. I believe Sen. Reid was suggesting that. I have no prediction on the Democratic primary," Nussle then clarified.
In two other questions, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino dodged answering about measures to address the energy situation in America.
Kinsolving first asked: "Scott Stanzel, during Monday's briefing, spoke of the need to expand oil exploration in ANWR, the Outer Continental Shelf, which columnist Cal Thomas notes has an estimated 86 billion barrels of oil and 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. But President Clinton vetoed exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And my question: Does the president believe that this veto compares to those claims of environmentalists that the Alaska pipeline would destroy the caribou?"
"I don't know – I'd have to consult Scott Stanzel on that," Perino said.
"Beg your pardon?"
"I was kidding. There's no room for humor," Perino said.
"There is room for humor. I'd be delighted to have humor," Kinsolving said.
"Not in this room. Look, our position on why we need to increase domestic exploration and production here in our own country is well known. It is critical if we are going to send a signal to the world market that we are serious about becoming more self-sufficient in our own country. And concerns about the caribou I believe have been taken into consideration, and that we have demonstrated that we have the technologies to be able to drill in a way that would protect the environment – not only the natural resources there, but also the caribou," Perino said.
Kinsolving also asked: "Reuters reports the House of Representatives voted 324-84 to have the Justice Department sue OPEC …"
"That's seems like a really large Congress," Perino said.
"…for limiting oil supplies and colluding on prices. And my question: Does the president believe the Senate will not follow the House in a similar veto-proof vote? And if not, why not?" Kinsolving finished.
"I don't know," Perino said.
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