The Political Showdown Over Obama's Budget

CBS Evening News: Republicans And Democrats Are Sparring Over The White House's $3.6 Trillion Budget

(CBS)  The budget showdown rolls on this week in the nation's capital, reports CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier. On Sunday, Democrats and Republicans took to the airwaves in another preview of what is fast becoming a bitter fight.

The battle lines have been drawn, Dozier reports, Democrat versus Republican, over the White House's multi-trillion-dollar budget.

"We've laid out a vision: start to invest in America, invest in your middle class, make the tough choices, be honest with the American people," said White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanual on CBS' Face The Nation.

"I think it's terrifying in the policy implications, as well as mind-boggling in the numbers," Jon Kyl, a Republican Senator from Arizona, said on Fox News Sunday.

It comes down to a difference in philosophy, Dozier reports.

The $3.6 trillion budget pours money into education, transportation and energy. In all, it maps out $500 billion dollars of increased federal spending over the next decade - not counting the cost of planned health care reform. The budget is supposed to pay for itself by raising taxes on the wealthy and on corporations, and cutting many corporate tax breaks.

Republicans call it a plan to re-distribute wealth - robbing from the rich to pay the poor, and leaving future generations to pick up the massive tab.

"It's got a $1.4 trillion tax increase in it, in the middle of a recession," said Congressman Paul D. Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican. "It doubles the debt in eight years. It never balances the budget, in fact, it proposes for the next 10 years that our deficits are the highest we've ever had on record."

Republican heavyweight, Newt Gingrich calls Mr. Obama's plan a game changer for the future.

"He said, 'I want to become a more left-wing country with a bigger government, with higher taxes.' Now, do you want to go that way or not?" Gingrich asked on CBS' Face The Nation.

The White House says the course the last administration took relied on consumer spending and tax cuts for corporations and the higher paid - and that got us where we are now - in trouble.

"Clearly, this budget is changing course," says Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget. "It's, like, you know - and the GPS system is recalculating the route and people are getting used to that."

The White House hopes to pass most of the budget by April, Solorzano reports. Advisors say now is the time to do it - early in the administration. They've got high approval ratings and maximum political capital to push this through.

[claydowner]

The Republicans complaining about this $3.6 trillion budget raising the deficit to around $1.6 trillion is a remarkable feat of amnesia. The mantra of the Republicans was deregulate the markets and let banks and corporations regulate themselves. The result has been a disaster in the subprime mortgage meltdown, the bailout of Wall Street investment banks due to highly leveraged credit default swaps, and on top of fighting two wars giving tax cuts to the top 2% on borrowed money from China. All of these actions have doubled our national debt. These policies gutted our economy of capital and froze the credit markets while ruining many trillions of dollars in private investments in retirement accounts. Republicans need to eat some crow and come up with better ideas for helping unemployed people. Tax cuts have been tried and their whole philosophy of deregulation a total failure leading to the current disasters of this deepening recession.

The Obama budget is a sorely needed correction to all of the tax breaks oil companies, huge banks, and other corporations were given under the Bush Administration. We need to invest in our infrastructure and in health care, education, and on developing renewable sources of energy to get off of imported OPEC. We need to start making investments into the future like educating more engineers, mathematicians, teachers, and technicians of all kinds. We must get free of the noose of OPEC oil because when oil was $140 per barrel we were sending $700 billion overseas so Dubai can build skyscrapers. Other OPEC countries freely support terrorists. The Pickens energy plan, wind farms, solar thermal plants, and cars that get 50 MPG, like European turbodiesels or electric hybrids must be built here at home. Reclycling and the insulation and weatherization of homes to conserve energy are imperatives for our national economy. We also need to develop bullet trains like the French TGV. There is plenty to do and President Obama's budget is only a start. Also Americans are going to be paying considerably more taxes. We have 77 million retiring baby boomers who will need medical care and pensions. The days of owning a 4,000 square foot house and two huge gas guzzling SUV's are going to be replaced by smaller homes, smaller electric hybrid cars, and higher fees and taxes from the federal, state, and local governments. These are the facts of life we have to deal with as a nation in the 21st century.

[dhutch88]

spend spend spend, tax tax tax. Stock market crash. Great way to start your 100 days.

[wvu74621]

Bob and weave, Bob and weave...whoops he dropped his pork sandwich................

[omega39-2009]

Republicans call it a plan to re-distribute wealth - robbing from the rich to pay the poor, and leaving future generations to pick up the massive tab.

And where were all these "stalwart" fiscal conservatives when Bush was launching us into two wars while shelving a treasury report that outlined massive chronic debt while he pushed tax cuts geared to the wealthiest? Where was the outrage as wealth was transferred upwards while debt was being passed on to future generations? This is exactly the reason that the GOP will never again be taken seriously by anyone other than the bunch that believe Sarah Palin would make a good presidential candidate.

[wvu74621]

Am I the only one who finds the government spending $11,883.00 PER PERSON nuts?
Posted by mjvwsr at 6:38 AM : Mar 2, 2009
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Wow thats really breaking it down. When you look at it in that way it is even more shocking than when you hear it straight from the horses mouth.

[wvu74621]

I can't even listen to ten seconds of it. They failed. They lost. Thank God.
Posted by Barry Kay at 6:10 AM : Mar 2, 2009
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Don't get ahead of yourself, you will probably be saying the same thing about Obama in 4 years.

[mjvwsr]

Am I the only one who finds the government spending $11,883.00 PER PERSON nuts?

[JoeChemicalEngineer]

What is a left wing government?? Does it have something to do with Angels? Do the Republicans have the right wing of the Angel??

Do you believe in Angels?

There is no god. Until we get this straight the world is doomed.... Its such a beautiful place and yet so ugly too......

[wvu74621]

We tried following Bush ... look where that got us! It's Obama time ... let's get behind the guy ... this recovery means a leader will be in charge ... how's about we support the guy!
Posted by emelder2 at 5:57 AM : Mar 2, 2009
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I would support him if he was'nt pulling the same old cra-p that NEARLY every other President has pulled. He is'nt even giving anyone the benefit of a reach around. He has to repay his secret promises to his campaign contributirs before he worries about you or I, hence the budget wrapped in a pork sandwich. Politicians should only be allowed to use campaign contribution made by taxpayers through mail in donations. No contributions should be allowed by banks, special interest groups, corporations, oil conglamorats etc and So what they may not have billions to spend on their campaigns, but who says they have to go to the extent that they have to get elected. They should get enough free media attention to speak to the people.

[grumpas]

Where were all these self-righteous screaming conservatives when the Republican's were destroying the country?????? Don't tell me let me guess??? They didn't necessarily believe in the rape of this country but went along with it anyway. That's what that weeny who calls himself my Congressman did. All the kool-aid drinkers in my state voted the arrogant jerk right back into office. Now he is the loudest voice protesting the 'spending money we don't have'! All while he was Bush's favorite lap dog 'spending money we didn't have'!

[grumpas]

Where were all these self-righteous screaming conservatives when the Republican's were destroying the country?????? Don't tell me let me guess??? They didn't necessarily believe in the rape of this country but went along with it anyway. That's what that weeny who calls himself my Congressman did. All the kool-aid drinkers in my state voted the arrogant jerk right back into office. Now he is the loudest voice protesting the 'spending money we don't have'! All while he was Bush's favorite lap dog 'spending money we didn't have'!

[Barry Kay]

At this point, Republicans would whine about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, if such an event were to occur.

I can't even listen to ten seconds of it. They failed. They lost. Thank God.

[emelder2]

We tried following Bush ... look where that got us! It's Obama time ... let's get behind the guy ... this recovery means a leader will be in charge ... how's about we support the guy!

[poeticaintit]

I had faith in Obama, this is a huge disappointment that he would go against his word and allow millions in earmarks.
Posted by Confidential416

he was very honest about what his intentions were through the entire 2 year campaign. he made it crystal clear he was going to punish the successful...redistribute wealth...and get even for all of Bush's tax cuts. why would anyone with an ounce of gray matter be disappointed or shocked at this point?

he hasn't done and will not do anything he didn't warn people of long before he was elected because he was black. you get what you pay for normally, but in this case the wealthy who paid to get him elected are the ones who will pay and pay and pay and as it becomes clear they still aren't enough to pay for Obama's dream of American...the middle class will suddenly become wealthy enough to be tapped to help out.

the only ones who stand to reap the rewards are the non tax payers...the deadbeats....the single welfare moms who will once again be career women on welfare because it will actually pay them to have children they never were able to support on their own...the undocumented workers who belly up to the table of free social services...and the numbers will grow to reflected 'a huge population of the NEEDY' aka parasites... under Obama. this is the dream Obama has for America and it's too late for buyer's remorse now. you bought the ticket...enjoy the ride.

[poeticaintit]

No and you know it. I'm tired of this "blame the Liberals" for all your problems and they will go away. It like the party is a LIE!
Posted by skyk-2009

As opposed to 'the republicans got us into this mess so don't yell at us if we have to spend to get us out of it!'....sounds like blame to me. That's all either party does...dems whined and wailed and bi.tc.hed for 8 years...chimp this and chimp that. Now they have the power and suddenly no fair using the word chimp...and the republicans are whining and wailing and bi.tchi.ng. It's a freaking wonder we get anything done in this country considering only 51% are happy at any given time.

Until we have politicians serving under term limits nothing will change. And why will it change with term limits? Because then the freaking pirates will have to ACTUALLY LIVE WITH ALL THE LAWS THEY PASS WHILE THEY ARE IN OFFICE. As it stands now....we have career politicans who haven't lived as ordinary citizens for 25 years!!! They can't be expected to know how we live, or care about how we live because IT NEVER AFFECTS THEM!

Maybe then we can have a government of the people, for the people, and by the people....FINALLY!!!

[withad-2009]

I had faith in Obama, this is a huge disappointment that he would go against his word and allow millions in earmarks.
Posted by Confidential416 at 5:18 AM : Mar 2, 2009
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Why? His stimulus bill was full of earmarks, did you think his budget was going to be any different. He has to take care of all the special interest groups that helped get him elected. Did you seriously think the two billion in campaign contributions came from 5 & 10 dollar donations.

[wvu74621]

Am I missing something in all of this? Should I not be worried about doubling our national debt over the next eight years? Does it make all this borrowing ok because the money will now be spent on a "left" agenda instead of a "right" agenda?
Posted by partagus7 at 5:28 AM : Mar 2, 2009
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Nicely stated. Regardless of party the little guy is always going to get screwed.

[withad-2009]

All I keep hearing is " I inherited this mess" from Obama, maybe if during the two years he ran for offfice he had done his job as a senator instead of "being present" or not voting when the Dem. led house and senate were passing all these costly bills he might not have "inherited" them.

[partagus7]

What would you suggest? You are one of those who sat by while Bush and the Republican's ran us into this massive hole and here you are slinging mud at the man the People picked to get us out. He has a PLAN at least...
Posted by skyk-2009 at 4:15 AM : Mar 2, 2009

You should not assume that if someone criticizes this new PLAN they somehow supported the old plan. Those of you on the left and the right somehow think it is your end of the spectrum that gets a president elected. Actually the independents in the center elect the president. And now we have selected our new president to, as you say, get us out of this hole. Yet when I look at his "Plan", it calls for digging the hole we are in deeper, ALOT DEEPER!

The new direction is not a 180 degree turn, only an adjustment to the left. But from the looks of things, it still appears we are heading off a CLIFF!

Am I missing something in all of this? Should I not be worried about doubling our national debt over the next eight years? Does it make all this borrowing ok because the money will now be spent on a "left" agenda instead of a "right" agenda?

[wvu74621]

Obama Will Sign Spending Bill Despite Earmarks:
President will break a campaign pledge on Monday and sign a budget bill laden with millions in lawmakers' pet projects, administration officials said.

AP

Promises!!!!!!!!!!