On four separate occasions during the 2008 presidential debates, then-Senator Obama explicitly rejected still-Senator John McCain’s suggestion for an across-the-board spending freeze as an emergency solution to the nation’s budget woes. Likening such a spending freeze to using a “hatchet” when all the country needs is a “knife” (which is almost as bad as having 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife), Obama said the move would be “unfair.”
Though the President is not yet calling for an across-the-board freeze, the decision is still a marked departure from the targeted cuts he mentioned were necessary during the three debates. The administration aims to save $250 billion by 2020 with the non-security spending freeze, otherwise known as 3 percent of the $9 trillion deficit that experts forecast.
The issue is expected to be front and center at Wednesday’s State of the Union address. Many Republicans see the new policy announcement as an attempt to distract Americans from the stalled health care debate.
“After spending most of the last year focused on their costly government takeover of health care, the White House and congressional Democrats again claim they are pivoting to the issue of jobs — even as they remain committed to their job-killing agenda,” Republican House leader John Boehner said in a statement.
AP (and Arnold) take over below the fold.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will ask Congress to freeze spending for some domestic programs for three years beginning in 2011.
The proposal comes as Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress face public anger over growing deficits.
Administration officials told The Associated Press on Monday that the freeze would apply to a relatively small portion of the budget. It would affect money available for domestic agencies whose budgets are approved each year.
Exempt from the freeze would be the Pentagon, veterans programs, foreign aid and homeland security.
Officials say the proposed three-year freeze will be part of the budget that Obama will submit Feb. 1. They spoke on condition of anonymity to reveal private details.
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