December 14, 2007
Happy Holidays! Now Send Me Some Bills.
Flanked by the vice president and the rest of his Cabinet-level officials, President Bush cheerfully reminded Congress of the mountain of legislative work they must tackle before departing for the holidays.
"I thank the Senate and congratulate the Senate for passing a good energy bill," Bush said at a press conference on the White House lawn. "Now the House must act."
Bush emerged to speak with reporters this morning following his weekly Cabinet meeting. He scored a victory yesterday when the Senate overwhelmingly passed an energy package minus a Democratic-sponsored $21.8 billion provision that would have reduced tax breaks for oil companies. The overall bill remains tough on automakers, however, and is expected to make it through the House next Tuesday with relative ease.
"Congress must act more quickly to protect middle-class families from the [alternative minimum tax] without raising taxes," Bush continued. "They must pass legislation to ensure our intelligence professionals can continue to effectively monitor terrorists' communications. They must move forward with spending legislation to fund day-to-day operations for the federal government."
Yesterday, the House voted for a continuing resolution to fund the government for an extra week while it hammers out (subscription) a comprehensive omnibus appropriations package. Bush has twice already enforced a line on raising taxes with his veto pen, and restated that any new legislation that raises taxes would meet the same fate.
"I hope they will use their additional time productively without gimmicks, without policy riders that cannot be enacted during the order of normal legislation," Bush said, referring to Congress' decision to keep working through next week instead of adjourning for the holidays on Friday.
Democrats in both chambers end the year somewhat defeated, particularly on the war in Iraq. Without a 60-vote veto-proof majority in the Senate, anti-war Democrats have found out the hard way that theirs is a majority in name only. New funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan is not likely to contain timelines or other such provisions of vetoed proposals past.
The president asked Congress for a continuing resolution that would fund the wars for one year if they were unable to hammer out a bill by year's end.
After opening the floor to reporters, Bush was asked about the MLB steroids report [PDF] released yesterday by an independent commission led by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell. "Like many fans I've been troubled by the steroids allegations. I think it's best that all of us not jump to any conclusions on any individual players" who were named, said the former owner of the Texas Rangers. "Steroids have sullied the game," Bush concluded. "I urge those in the public spotlight, particularly athletes -- when they violate their bodies they are sending a terrible signal to the nation's young."
Asked by another reporter whether he'd heard back from his newest pen pal, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il, Bush was somewhat coy.
"I got his attention with a letter, and he can get my attention by fully disclosing his [nuclear] programs," Bush said.
Separately, National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe confirmed today that Pyongyang had sent "a verbal reply" by way of "New York diplomatic channels." Johndroe did not elaborate.
Though Bush and his Cabinet were lined up in such a way to suggest they might serenade the nation with a carol, the president briskly wrapped up the presser. "I've got freezing Cabinet members out here," he said, as they and even Vice President Dick Cheney laughed.
Posted at 11:44 AM
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Asia, Bush Administration, Congress, Dick Cheney, House, Iraq, Middle East, North Korea, President Bush, Senate, Taxes
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