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Politics

Bush threatens Congress' pet projects

His move could set up a fight with lawmakers from both parties.

By Times Wires
Published December 21, 2007

WASHINGTON - President Bush threatened Thursday to cancel thousands of pet projects that Congress inserted into a massive spending bill before leaving town this week, a move that could provoke a fierce battle with lawmakers in both parties who jealously guard their ability to steer money to favored purposes.

At an end-of-the-year news conference, Bush, successful in forcing the Democratic Congress to bend to his will, complained Thursday that lawmakers had wasted time and taxpayers' money. His aggressive stand set a confrontational tone for Bush's final year in the White House.

Bush chastised Democratic leaders for failing to live up to their campaign promise to curb so-called earmarks and said he has ordered his budget director "to review options for dealing with the wasteful spending in the omnibus bill." Aides said later those options would include simply disregarding earmarks not included in binding legislative language.

When the counting is done, this year's earmarks will probably be about 25 percent less costly than the all-time high in 2005, according to Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "From our perspective, it's a step in the right direction. Would we have liked to see a bigger step? Yes. ... The critical question will be do they continue to take steps next year and the year after next."

The warning came during an expansive 48-minute session that Bush used to frame the results of 2007 as a victory for his priorities, highlighting areas where he forced Democrats to retreat while brushing past defeats for his own initiatives.

What began as a troubling year for Bush, facing a new, energetic Democratic Congress, ended in triumph for the president as frustrated Democrats nursed their losses. Democrats failed in their No. 1 objective to stop the war in Iraq and bowed to Bush and his veto threats on tax policies, energy legislation, children's health insurance and general spending.

After months of bitter fights, Bush said the year was ending on a high note. "It's an antagonistic world from some people's point of view," the president said. "I try to make it less that way and to focus on high priorities."

But that did not stop him from presenting a litany of complaints. Bush said he was disappointed Congress had lumped government spending into a single 1,400-page omnibus bill. "When Congress wastes so much time and leaves its work to the final days before Christmas, it is not a responsible way to run this government," he said.

He also complained Congress had not renewed a government eavesdropping bill to combat terrorism and said that should be a first priority when lawmakers return in January. Another priority is to make sure Congress does not raise taxes, he said.

Democrats conceded Bush's success. "President Bush's veto pen prevented the kind of significant change our country needs," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, head of the House Democratic Caucus. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "Next year, I hope the president will stop trying to block progress and work with Congress to deliver for the American people."

Information from the Washington Post and Associated Press was used in this report.

[Last modified December 21, 2007, 01:42:44]