June 13, 2010

HOUSE IN NO RUSH TO BOOST OBAMA'S SPENDING AUTHORITY

According to The Hill – a daily newspaper published for and about Congress – the House appears in no rush to move on a White House proposal to bolster the President’s authority over congressional spending despite a new endorsement from Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

On Friday, she would not commit to scheduling a vote for a bill on the so-called rescission authority – saying she would wait to gauge the proposal’s level of support.  Yet, she offered her personal backing for the measure that would allow the President to identify specific cuts to congressional spending bills after they are signed into law.

“I would like to see how the votes are going on it, but that’s something I certainly support,” Pelosi said.

FRESH MOMENTUM

Her comments signal fresh momentum for a proposal she had met -- with only neutral words -- when President Barack Obama announced it before Memorial Day.

Under the proposal, the President would be able to cut -- from spending bills -- items he deems wasteful.  Congress would then vote on the package of rescissions, without amendment, within 45 days.

The proposal for expedited rescission authority is considered a compromise to the line-item veto which presidents have long sought but which the Supreme Court has ruled an unconstitutional infringement on Congress’s power of the purse.

BUDGET COMMITTEE

The House Budget Committee will hold a hearing on the President’s proposal on Thursday.  The panel’s chairman, Rep.  John Spratt (D-S.C.)  is a chief sponsor of the bill.  A companion bill in the Senate was unveiled Wednesday by Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.)  and Tom Carper (D-Del..)

Pelosi highlighted a related bill introduced in March by freshman Rep.  Walt Minnick (D-Idaho) It would give the President expedited rescission authority, but force congressional action in a shorter time frame – and cap the amount of spending the President could propose.

Pelosi said Minnick recently presented his proposal at a meeting of first-term lawmakers, where it received strong support.

ELECTION YEAR

The push could hold promise for both the administration and Congress in an election year environment in which government and spending looms large.  Minnick and other vulnerable House Democrats are looking to tout efforts to cut the deficit and control spending.

Yet, veteran appropriators have long resisted efforts by the executive branch to wrest spending power from Congress.

When Obama proposed a national commission on deficit reduction early this year, lawmakers rejected a bill that would have forced Congress to vote on the panel’s recommendations.

Instead, Obama had to create the commission by executive order -- with only a verbal commitment from Democratic congressional leaders that its recommendation would be brought to the floor.

Just think how happy you’d be if you lost every thing and then got it back.

Age is a case of mind over matter.  If you don’t mind, it don’t matter.

-- Satchel Paige

Once a job is fouled up, anything done to improve it makes it worse.

When in doubt, tell the truth.

Money will buy a dog, but only love will make him wag his tail.

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist