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Top Democrats cross Obama on earmarks
Washington Times ^ | March 4, 2009 | S. A. Miller

Posted on 03/04/2009 9:10:04 AM PST by Jim Robinson

President Obama's drive to change Washington's free-spending ways is running into a buzz saw of opposition from his party, as another top congressional Democrat on Tuesday bucked the president's plan to curb pork projects.

Mr. Obama also drew criticism from his party for his call to raise taxes on high earners, especially his plan to limit some taxpayers' itemized deductions for charitable donations.

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer became the second leading congressional Democrat in a week to push back against Mr. Obama's drive to curb member-directed earmarks on spending bills.

Saying he was open to the president's "suggestions" about how to reform the spending process, the Maryland Democrat told reporters, "I don't think the White House has the ability to tell us what to do. I hope you all got that down."

His remark echoed a warning from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, that the earmarks process is a congressional prerogative.

Regarding the deduction for charitable donations, Rep. Charles B. Rangel, New York Democrat and chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said he "would never want to adversely affect anything that is charitable or good."

On Monday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Mr. Obama plans new rules on earmarks before Congress acts on the proposed $3.5 trillion budget for 2010. "The president is going to draw some very clear lines about what's going to happen going forward," Mr. Gibbs said.

If Mr. Obama pushes hard for earmark reform, he faces the first major rift of his administration with leaders of his own party in Congress. The president already faces attacks from Republicans and private watchdog groups about the persistence of earmarks and borrow-and-spend attitude on Capitol Hill.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 111th; bho2009; bho44; bhobudget; budget; democrats; earmarks; economy; obama
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1 posted on 03/04/2009 9:10:04 AM PST by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson

what a tool; Obama had an earmark in the bill


2 posted on 03/04/2009 9:11:52 AM PST by Billg64 (LOL ROFL Senator Mccain for what????)
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To: Jim Robinson

Those in his party would do well to remember Sergei Kirov....


3 posted on 03/04/2009 9:13:01 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: Jim Robinson

I expect democrat defections to the GOP by the end of the year. Not sure about so-called “journalists”.


4 posted on 03/04/2009 9:14:00 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer (The democRATS are near the tipping point.)
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To: Jim Robinson
Now that they have the porkulus bill passed, they are trying to look fiscally responsible. They know that 2010 is not far away.
5 posted on 03/04/2009 9:15:40 AM PST by Moorings
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To: Billg64

9000/5$ Billion


6 posted on 03/04/2009 9:15:53 AM PST by xcamel (The urge to save humanity is always a false front for the urge to rule it. - H. L. Mencken)
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To: Jim Robinson

Don’t you just love it when members of Obama’s own party make a liar of him?


7 posted on 03/04/2009 9:16:39 AM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Repeal the 16th!)
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To: anniegetyourgun

Do you have a picture? :)


8 posted on 03/04/2009 9:17:34 AM PST by OKSooner ("He's quite mad, you know." - Sean Connery to Honor Blackman in "Goldfinger".)
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: Oldeconomybuyer
I expect democrat defections to the GOP by the end of the year.

Not fast enough. All these RATS, regardless of their deflection, will be remembers and anti-Americans. Part of the new Communists Party.

11 posted on 03/04/2009 9:18:02 AM PST by Logical me (Oh, well!!!)
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To: Jim Robinson

increasingly, many americans are unhappy with both parties.


12 posted on 03/04/2009 9:18:36 AM PST by ken21 (the only thing we have to fear is fdr deja vu.)
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To: Jim Robinson

How many earmarks in OBAMA’s bill?


13 posted on 03/04/2009 9:21:25 AM PST by dr_who
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To: Jim Robinson
Saying he was open to the president's "suggestions" about how to reform the spending process

Wow. Real buzzsaw there. Standback or you might get some blood on you. I think it's token opposition. No pun intended.

14 posted on 03/04/2009 9:24:03 AM PST by subterfuge (BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NOW!!!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

That started last week when a state legislator in Mississippi dumped the Dems.


15 posted on 03/04/2009 9:24:45 AM PST by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Jim Robinson

According to Laura Ingram, several Republicans including the terrible trio of Collins, Specter and Snowe, are FOR the earmarks. Regretably, so are “conservative” stalwarts Shelby of Alabama, Cochran of Mississippi, Bond of Missouri.


16 posted on 03/04/2009 9:30:11 AM PST by meandog (The only "Bush" sounding surname worth a damn belongs to NASCAR's Kurt&Kyle Busch--not GEORGE!)
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To: Army Air Corps

Really? Do tell us about it, it is so good to read something encouraging during these dark times.


17 posted on 03/04/2009 9:41:33 AM PST by pepperdog (The world has gone crazy.)
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To: meandog

Out the door with the lot of them!


18 posted on 03/04/2009 9:42:41 AM PST by pepperdog (The world has gone crazy.)
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To: Jim Robinson
Earmarks = " The method of shaking hands while subsequently stealing your wallet and pi$$ing on your shoe".

It's a talent.....

19 posted on 03/04/2009 9:44:23 AM PST by FixitGuy (By their fruits shall ye know them!)
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To: OKSooner
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

20 posted on 03/04/2009 9:45:04 AM PST by WOBBLY BOB (ACORN:American Corruption for Obama Right Now)
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