Bush exhorts Congress to produce more (like maybe, a spending bill or two and fewer subpoenas?)

PHILADELPHIA - President Bush said Thursday the Democratic-run Congress shouldn't leave Washington for its August recess without at least finishing a spending bill covering the Defense Department.

"In a time of war, one spending bill ought to take precedence over all the rest," Bush said in a speech before a meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council.

"Members of Congress ought to finish the spending bill for the Department of Defense before they go on recess so I can sign it into law," the president said. "We got troops in harm's way. They need to exercise their responsibility."

Congress is due to begin a monthlong recess in about two weeks, and Bush said lawmakers must finish work on that defense bill even if they don't get to 11 other government spending bills by then.

But with the next fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, not a single one of the 12 annual spending bills for agency budgets and programs has yet been passed by the full Congress. Democrats are adding about $23 billion to Bush's proposed budget — or about 2 percent of the so-called discretionary budget covering nonsecurity-related domestic programs. The White House has reacted with several veto threats, and the two branches remain entrenched in a protracted wrestling match over spending.

Congress was expected to easily pass the Pentagon's annual military spending request before Oct. 1, although debate on the Iraq war could hold up the $142 billion Bush requested for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. If that happens, Democratic officials predict the military could borrow against other accounts and fund the war through February.

"The president's call today to pressure Congress to quickly complete a defense spending bill that does not take effect until October is simply the latest example of the president shamelessly hiding behind our brave troops in an effort to distract attention from his failed national security record and failed conduct of this war," said Reid, D-Nev.

Lawmakers are increasingly concerned that many if not most of the 12 spending measures won't get enacted into law until late in the year as part of a foot-tall omnibus, catchall bill.

Bush portrayed this situation as the fault of Congress, run by Democrats since January.

"They're now in charge and it's important that they exercise their responsibility," he said. "They've been dragging their feet on these bills. They are now getting ready to leave for their August recess without having passed a single spending bill."

The president said the bills must come to him one at a time, not as a "massive spending bill that no one can read and in which anyone can hide wasteful spending."

He also said that all the bills should be done by Sept. 30, when the current fiscal year ends and money runs out for government operations.

"There's time to do it," Bush said. "I'll hang around if they want me to, to get the bill passed."

Bush also criticized the Democrats' spending priorities, saying that since their budget counts on the expiration of current tax cuts, it represents "the largest tax increase in American history." When Congress, then run by Republicans, passed tax cuts earlier in Bush's presidency, it attached expiration dates to most of them. Those expiration dates come into play over the next several years.

"The bunch now running the Congress want to return to the tax-and-spend policies of the past that did not work then and will not work in the future," the president said. "And that's why I plan on using my veto to keep your taxes low."

This line earned Bush a standing ovation from his friendly audience. The ALEC seeks to advance principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty.

The 12 annual spending bills dole out approximately one-third of the federal budget. Lawmakers began considering this year's batch just in mid-June.

Democratic leaders say they are behind in the appropriating process because an emergency spending measure funding the war in Iraq came first. They also had to pass an omnibus measure cleaning up last year's appropriations mess. Also, the Republicans who then controlled Congress failed to pass into law a single spending bill for domestic agencies save the Homeland Security Department — a situation that brought little complaint from Bush.

Democrats are adding about $23 billion to Bush's proposed budget — or about 2 percent of the so-called discretionary budget covering nonsecurity-related domestic programs.

I watched/listened to Senator George V. Voinovich this morning: Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH), the Senate’s top “Debt Hawk,” today voted against a fiscally irresponsible amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill because of his concern that it would burden our children and grandchildren with another $3 billion of debt.

The White House has reacted with several veto threats, and the two branches remain entrenched in a protracted wrestling match over spending.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Bush was making much ado about nothing.:>

If I could I would at this point file law suits against both Schumer and Reid for their deliberate obstruction of getting work done in both Houses. The flurry of subpoenas, the calls for more investigations and special prosecutors is clearly over the top and unconstitutional in all areas. These elected servants Reid and Schumer are blowing smoke perhaps so the public won’t ask Hillary any questions about her unlawful campaign financing or the law suits against her, lord knows what else, but someone with some back bone had better start asking questions of Reid’s shady doings and Schumer’s determination to wreck the Bush administration at any and all costs…..War Time is not the time to attempt such down and dirty politics. Or is it that the Surge is working, General Petraeus is getting things done, success is happening and the Libs surely don’t want that……………..

Word to all Republicans…..when the subpoena comes calling, simply tell the messenger to call your lawyer…..why get trapped like Scooter Libby. The President can fire whom ever he wants to when he wants to; all serve at his pleasure. Bill Clinton fired 97 lawyers and no one questioned him then or when he put 97 liberal lawyers of their (Bill & Hill) choice on benches around the country…….is there no voice on the Republican side? All contact John Boehner:
H-204 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4000
Fax: (202) 225-5117

It wouldn’t hurt to contact Mitch McConnell also: (202) 224-2541;
Fax – (202) 224-2499

Senator Jon Kyl

(202) 224-4521;
Fax - 224-2207

Like the immigration bill – we need to put a stop to this time wasting, expensive, political witch hunt…..there are no crimes…..Bill and Hillary Clinton DID commit crimes and look where they are today…getting ready for their THIRD TERM AS POTUS!! Take action Freepers, lets put a stop to this madness.

God Bless our troops, our President and General Petraeus.

Lawmakers are increasingly concerned that many if not most of the 12 spending measures won't get enacted into law until late in the year as part of a foot-tall omnibus, catchall bill

That's part of Reid's plan to avoid debate & veto. It's much easier to sneak bloat, pork and other nonsense into a massive, voluminous "omnibus" bill on a last minute "fast-track." People don't get a chance to read it, and the demagogues can add multi-million-dollar gifts to their lobbyist family members, and then accuse anyone who complains of being obstructionist and not doing everything they can for the troops. Disustingly cynical.

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