Posted on 03/11/2009 5:52:31 AM PDT by bestintxas
Facing mounting criticism of a spending package packed with billions of dollars in earmarks, the Obama administration made a vow Sunday: This president will bring a halt to pork-laden bills.
Peter Orszag says it is too late to cut earmarks from the spending bill inherited from the Bush administration.
"[Such bills] will not happen when the president has the full legislative and appropriations process in place," Peter Orszag, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, told CNN's "State of the Union with John King."
He argued that the White House had little choice but to support the $410 billion omnibus spending bill, which it inherited from the previous administration. The bill would keep the government running through 2009.
"This is like your relief pitcher coming into the ninth inning and wanting to redo the whole game," Orszag said. "Next year we're going to be the starting pitcher, and the game's going to be completely different." Watch Orszag say it's too late to fight earmarks in this spending bill »
But House Minority Whip Eric Cantor rejected the argument and noted that President Obama had vowed to take action against earmarks during the presidential campaign.
"If you make a promise, people expect that you live up to it. And that's why this administration's refusal to go in and change this bill, I think, is a false position," Cantor told "State of the Union."
"There is no way anyone could take what Mr. Orszag has said with any credibility," Cantor said. Watch Cantor criticize White House's stance »
Don't Miss Senate Democrats to consider GOP changes on spending bill Critics question Obama's pledge to end 'pork'
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the football.
Damn. I knew it was Bush’s fault. HE’s the one who inserted all those earmarks... /sarc
“Jush wan more bottel of scotch, and then I SWEAR I’m going on the wagon honey.”
Oh okay. Now comes the massive Stimulus 2.
I am just speechless. When does it end? These people are insane.
Orszag is supposed to be smart, but this statement is plainly stupid. The last Congress was the 110th. Its composition was different than the current (111th) Congress. The legislation just passed was never offered during the 110th. The legislation just passed was never presented to President Bush. This budget-busting bloatstrosity may be left over work, but it is entirely the responsibility of the current (111th) Congress and the current (Zero) presidency.
Of course there will be no earmarks!
Zero will, henceforth, only sign spending bills that contain Congressionally Resolved Appropriations for Procurement.
“Orszag is supposed to be smart, but this statement is plainly stupid. “
Its a little white lie.
Good heavens no wonder the economy is tanking. TRUST is breaking down everywhere.
I think that the American oublic are the assholes for believing their lies.
Everything is Bush’s fault according to them and the idiots that call themselves the American public eat it up like a hungry man on a steak.
Riiight. Since Bela Pelosi has been Speaker of the House for the last two budget intervals, I'm thinking this budget bears more of HER mark and that of the Democrat party, than that of President Bush.
Heh, vey good!
Cool, someone got it!! I thought it would be more obvious .....
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