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Foxnews...
Obama Has ‘Failed to
Lead’ on Spending Cuts, Democratic Senator Says
Published March 08, 2011
Freshman Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin accused President Obama of sitting
on the sidelines Tuesday while Congress debates “wildly different”
budget bills that are expected to fail.
“Our president has failed to lead this debate or offer a serious
proposal for spending and cuts that he would be willing to fight for,”
Manchin, D-W.Va., said on the Senate floor.
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer shot back, saying Obama is the “point
person” for the budget negotiations.
“He and his people are fully engaged in this effort,” Hoyer said.
“Senator Manchin, I think, is incorrect.”
But Manchin, who battled persistent criticism during his campaign that
he was too close to the White House, had strong words for both parties.
He said Republicans’ proposals were too sweeping and harsh, while
Democrats’ proposals don’t do enough to address the deficit problem.
Instead of engaging in what he called “political theater,” Manchin
urged the president to take a more active role and bring both parties
together toward a budget compromise.
The government is currently operating on a temporary, two-week budget
bill. Unless a broader budget is approved for the rest of 2011,
Congress will likely have to approve another short-term bill to keep
things running. So far, the parties have not been able to come together
on a package that includes spending cuts they’re both happy with.
Manchin, the former governor of West Virginia, will have to run for
re-election in 2012. He has strived since his campaign to show he is
independent from Democratic leaders in Washington.
But his comments add fuel to GOP claims that Democratic spending
proposals do not go deep enough. Republicans are calling for $61
billion in spending cuts, while Democrats are proposing about $8.7
billion, according to a recent analysis. That includes $4 billion in
cuts approved in the last two-week budget bill.
Read the story with links at Fox News
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