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 $3.5 trillion budget for 2010. "The president is going to draw some very clear lines about what's going to happen going forward," Mr. Gibbs said.
If Mr. Obama pushes hard for earmark reform, he faces the first major rift of his administration with leaders of his own party in Congress. The president already faces attacks from Republicans and private watchdog groups about the persistence of earmarks and borrow-and-spend attitude on Capitol Hill.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
what a tool; Obama had an earmark in the bill
Those in his party would do well to remember Sergei Kirov....
I expect democrat defections to the GOP by the end of the year. Not sure about so-called “journalists”.
9000/5$ Billion
Don’t you just love it when members of Obama’s own party make a liar of him?
Do you have a picture? :)
Not fast enough. All these RATS, regardless of their deflection, will be remembers and anti-Americans. Part of the new Communists Party.
increasingly, many americans are unhappy with both parties.
How many earmarks in OBAMA’s bill?
Wow. Real buzzsaw there. Standback or you might get some blood on you. I think it's token opposition. No pun intended.
That started last week when a state legislator in Mississippi dumped the Dems.
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.
Really? Do tell us about it, it is so good to read something encouraging during these dark times.
Out the door with the lot of them!
It's a talent.....
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