Obama backs measure to restore fiscal discipline
Obama said [Saturday] the country was on an unsustainable course...
[Obama said] "... we cannot settle for a future of rising deficits and debts that our children cannot pay."
"Government has a responsibility to spend the peoples' money wisely, and to serve the people effectively," Obama said.
But but but... just the day before
In a meeting with House Republicans at the White House Thursday, President Obama reminded the minority that the last time he reached out to them, they reacted with zero votes -- twice -- for his stimulus package. And then he reminded them again. And again. And again.
A GOP source familiar with the meeting said that the president was extremely sensitive -- even "thin-skinned" -- to the fact that the stimulus bill received no GOP votes in the House. He continually brought it up throughout the meeting.
Obama also offered payback... A major overhaul of the health care system, he told the Republican leadership, would be done using a legislative process known as reconciliation, meaning that the GOP won't be able to filibuster it.
Congress has until October 15 to pass health care or student lending reform under the normal process. If it doesn't, reconciliation can be used to eliminate the 60-vote requirement.
.... GOP aides... said that Obama was pretty clear that reconciliation would be used. "From what was told me, it sounded more like he would almost definitely use reconciliation for healthcare. I don't think he hedged much," said one.
.... Obama argued that House Republicans had made a "strategic decision" to oppose the stimulus, while [House Minority Leader John] Boehner countered that Obama hadn't accepted House Republican input on the bill.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pushed back against the decision to use reconciliation.... "Fast-tracking a major legislative overhaul such as health care reform or a new national energy tax without the benefit of a full and transparent debate does a disservice to the American people," said McConnell in a statement. "And it would make it absolutely clear they intend to carry out their plans on a purely partisan basis."
"Purely partisan" doesn't sound much like Change, does it? Must be the Hope thing. Or the bringing-people-together thing.
Or the rock-star thing.
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