Obama: Washington should cut back like average (shovel-ready) families do

The Hill ^ | 2/12/11 | Andrew Restuccia

[Libloather]

Obama: Washington should cut back like average families do
By Andrew Restuccia - 02/12/11 06:00 AM ET

President Obama said Saturday that his upcoming budget will force Washington to “live within our means” at a time when American families are having to make difficult economic decisions every day.

In his weekly address, Obama outlined his fiscal year 2012 budget request, which he will send to Congress on Monday. Obama’s budget comes as Republicans in Congress are railing against government spending. House Republicans just unveiled a bill to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year that, at the prodding of Tea Party freshmen, cuts current spending by $58 billion.

Obama, in the address, compared the budget-making process to a family having to make sacrifices in order to get by.

Obama told the story of Brenda Breece, a special-ed teacher in Missouri, and her family. The Breece family has tightened their food budget, started watching movies on TV instead of going to the movie theater and even cuts each other’s hair.

“[I]t’s time Washington acted as responsibly as our families do,” Obama said. “And on Monday, I’m proposing a new budget that will help us live within our means while investing in our future.”

Obama said he had to make tough choices on his budget. The budget will call for a five-year spending freeze on all domestic spending, a move that will reduce the deficit by $400 million during the next 10 years, Obama said.

The budget targets wasteful spending, Obama said.

“We’re getting rid of thousands of government-owned buildings that sit empty because they aren’t needed,” he said. “I’ve also proposed freezing salaries for hard-working government employees, because everyone has to do their part.”

Obama also railed against earmarks. “I’m going to make sure politics doesn’t add to our deficit by vetoing any bill that contains earmarks,” he said.

But Obama stressed that there are a number of policies that are worth investing in. He pointed to investments in infrastructure like roads and high-speed rail, clean energy and education.

[Recovering_Democrat]

BWA HA HA HA HA! Okay, so let’s stop the unspent stimulus money, revoke DeathCare, and put an end to Hussein’s over the top spending.

[Recovering_Democrat]

The budget will call for a five-year spending freeze on all domestic spending, a move that will reduce the deficit by $400 million during the next 10 years, Obama said.

LOL. Oh yeah, Hussein is just gonna get it down to "just" $1.1 TRILLION a year, huh?

What an assclown.

[Caipirabob]

Obama: Washington should cut back like average (shovel-ready) families do

I feel another 2 week, 20 billion dollar trip to Spain or Hawaii coming on...

[Lessthantolerant]

How about the government start with The Zero? Maybe he could get a Prius and travel around the United States instaed of using AF1, maybe he could cut back on his HO’s trips and chefs?

[joe fonebone]

"high-speed trains to nowhere"
decades ago, here in the detroit area, the feds gave detroit cash for an elevated train, called the people mover. Nobody moved around the downtown area, or any outlying areas (ghetto)..my dad was down there for a telephone line related problem, and was standing next to the government man as he was surveying the project. He said the government looked around and said, " Where the hell are all the people this thing is supposed to move?".....now they want to build light rail lines from the suburbs right through the ghetto to a spot in one of the most dangerous area's in the city....idiots, i tell you, idiots

[DrC]

“idiots, i tell you, idiots”

I think most voters would agree this is a pithy description of our Veep who apparently has been tasked with “selling” the idea of high-speed rail to America. Apparently an administration that got into power by selling the public on a fraudulent platform of “hope and change” believes those suckers are ready to swallow even more snake oil.

[joe fonebone]

I have ridden amtrak, and the train is a real nice way to go...if you have nothing but time...i can drive to chicago in 4 and a half hours, but it takes 8 and a half hours by train.....If I was in charge, the routes would only be between major cities...cut the time, cut the cost, and increase the riders...then it might possibly be a viable alternative to car rides....but, given the government, we cannot possibly do anything that makes even the remotest sense....you just can’t fix stupid..

[NittanyLion]

“I’ve also proposed freezing salaries for hard-working government employees, because everyone has to do their part.”

With the exception of military personnel, I'm pretty sure those terms are mutually exclusive.

[GailA]

We are cutting back, because our FIXED income just got gutted by that IRS code fiddling by $600 for 2011.

[GailA]

Wonder how much his Valentine date with moochelle is going to cost us Tax SERFS?

[nascarnation]

With the exception of military personnel, I'm pretty sure those terms are mutually exclusive.

don't forget the ones working on Baraq's re-election campaign