Research Briefing

After Letting Congressional Dems Craft Binge Spending Agenda In 2009, Obama Clears Way For More Binging In 2010

TODAY: “President Obama Will Speak To House Democrats … As Part Of Their Annual Issues Conference.” (Dominique Pastre, “President Obama Speaks To House Democrats Thursday,” Fox News’ “Row 2, Seat 4” Blog, 1/12/10)

OBAMA MEETING WITH DEMS TO CRAFT HIS 2010 BINGE SPENDING AGENDA …

Obama’s Non-Defense Discretionary Spending To Increase By 16 Percent This Year, Highest 1-Year Increase Since Jimmy Carter In 1978. (Office Of Management And Budget, “Table 8.7—Outlays For Discretionary Programs: 1962–2014,” Accessed 12/11/09)

Obama’s Deficit Expected To Reach Record $1.5 Trillion In FY 2010. (White House Office Of Management And Budget, "Mid-Session Review: Fiscal Year 2010," 8/25/09)

Obama’s Binge Spending Will Nearly Double National Debt Over 9 Years, From $11.9 Trillion To $23 Trillion. (White House Office Of Management And Budget, “Mid-Session Review: Fiscal Year 2010,” 8/25/09)

Obama’s Binge Spending Includes $2.5 Trillion Government-Run Health Care Experiment Obama Is Rushing To Get Passed. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT): "Just for a second -- health care reform, whether you use a ten-year number or when you start in 2010 or start in 2014, wherever you start at, so it is still either $1 trillion or it's $2.5 trillion, depending on where you start..." (Sen. Max Baucus, Floor Remarks, 12/2/09)

• And His $174 Billion Stimulus II. "The House narrowly passed Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) $174 billion jobs bill Wednesday, only after Pelosi and other party leaders yelled, pleaded and cajoled reluctant Democrats worried over deficit spending. The vote was 217-212. No Republicans voted for the bill, and 38 Democrats voted against it." (Mike Soraghan and Jared Allen, "House Narrowly Passes Pelosi's $174B Jobs Bill," The Hill, 12/16/09)

JUST AS HE ENABLED THEM TO CRAFT HIS 2009 BINGE SPENDING AGENDA

“As A Real Good Talker, The President’s MO Has Been To Leave The Legislative Details To The Hill …” (Andrew Malcolm, “10 Things Obama Must Do In Congress Tonight,” The Los Angeles Times’ “Top Of The Ticket” Blog, 9/9/09)

On His $2.5 Trillion Government-Run Health Care Experiment, “Obama Is Leaving The Nitty-Gritty Legislative Details To Congress, Which Appears Eager To Take On The Task.” (Joanne Silberner, Julie Rovner and Brenda Wilson, Health Section, “Inside Obama’s First Budget,” NPR, 2/26/09)

• Some Like Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) Wanted Obama To “Let The Senate Worry About The Details” Of His Government Takeover Of Health Care. “When I asked Baucus what he needed from the White House in order to help pass a viable health care plan, his answer, more or less, was nothing — as in, the most helpful thing they can do is butt out and let the Senate worry about the details.” (Matt Bai, “Taking The Hill,” The New York Times, 6/7/09)
• But Other Dems Were Pressuring Obama “To Get More Personally Involved And Stop Leaving All The Painful Details To Congress.” (Susan Milligan, “Pressure Grows For Obama To Leap Into Healthcare Fray,” The Boston Globe, 7/15/09)

Obama “Punted” Details Of Stimulus I To “Congress Led By Liberal Democrats.” “While top Obama officials like Summers and Furman spent hours meeting with labor leaders, executives, and economists to design the broad outlines of a stimulus package, they punted the details to Congress led by liberal Democrats.”  (Nina Easton, “Inside Obama’s Economic Crusade,” CNNMoney.com, 2/13/09)

• Obama “Was Trying To Dump The Whole Spending Bill – And The Potentially Onerous Responsibility For Throwing Around Billions In Taxpayer Money – On Lawmakers, So He Wouldn’t Have To Own It.” (Matt Bai, “Taking The Hill,” The New York Times, 6/7/09)
• Because Obama Enabled Dems To Craft Stimulus, Bill “Laden With Wasteful Spending.” “Obama had some stumbles. His team allowed congressional Republicans to cast the stimulus bill as laden with wasteful spending … In some ways, House Democrats made it easy for Republicans by including pet projects that proved difficult to defend as economic stimulus, among them funding for family planning services and landscaping for the National Mall. The Obama team had left it to the Democratic leadership to write the details of the bill.” (Susan Page, “Stimulus Fight Gives Obama Lessons Early,” USA Today, 2/12/09)

By Allowing Congressional Dems To Craft His 2009 Omnibus Spending Bill, Obama Signed Measure Full Of Earmarks “Despite His Campaign Pledge To Reduce Earmarks.” “During our exclusive interview … President Obama’s chief number cruncher, Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag, said the president will sign the 2009 omnibus spending bill, despite his campaign pledge to reduce earmarks. The Senate is going to be debating an omnibus spending proposal that has several thousand earmarks. During the presidential campaign, Obama pledged to reduce earmarks to below 1994 levels … Despite the earmarks, Orszag said Obama will sign the bill.” (George Stephanopoulos, “Orszag: Obama Will Sign Omnibus Despite Earmark Pledge,” ABC News’ “George’s Bottom Line” Blog, 3/1/09)

AND TO CLEAR THE WAY, OBAMA WILLING TO RAISE LIMIT ON AMERICA’S CREDIT CARD “BY ANY AMOUNT”

Obama “Open To Any Legislative Vehicle That Will Raise The Debt Limit By Any Amount.” “The White House wants an increase of at least $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion … The administration officials said the White House is open to any legislative vehicle that will raise the debt limit, by any amount.” (Rebecca Christie, “U.S. Treasury Confident Congress Will Increase Debt Ceiling,” Bloomberg, 11/13/09)

Dems Passed $290 Billion Debt Limit Increase On Christmas Eve.  “The U.S. Congress passed legislation increasing the U.S. debt limit by $290 billion before recessing for the year.” (Jonathan D. Salant and Brian Faler, “Senate Votes to Increase Debt Ceiling by $290 Billion (Update1),” BusinessWeek, 12/24/10)

Another Vote To Increase Debt Limit Is Scheduled For January 20. “The Senate will immediately consider a longer-term debt limit bill, along with several proposed amendments, on Jan. 20, the day after reconvening. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., will offer a substitute that would increase the $13.029 trillion debt ceiling currently included in the bill, although it's unclear how large the increase would be.” (Geoff Koss, “Senate Clears Debt Limit Bill,” Congressional Quarterly, 12/24/09)

Even Though Debt Ceiling Was Already Increased By $789 Earlier In 2009. “If Congress agrees to the Treasury's request it would mark the second increase in the debt ceiling this year. The economic stimulus package passed by Congress earlier this year increased the debt ceiling by $789 billion to $12.1 trillion.” (Michael R. Crittenden And Patrick Yoest, “Lawmakers Urged To Raise Nation's Debt Limit,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/10/09)