Republicans Concede (Obama) Budget will be hard to block

[EraOfResponsibility]

By BRODY MULLINS and GREG HITT
WASHINGTON -- Republican congressional leaders ramped up criticism of President Barack Obama's budget proposal, even as they conceded that they likely won't be able to block it.

Congressional Republicans on Sunday morning talk shows described Mr. Obama's $3.6 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2010 as a return to an era of big government, with huge increases in taxes and spending.

"It's almost as if we are relocating the headquarters of the economy to Washington, D.C.," said Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the top Republican on the House Budget Committee, on "Fox News Sunday." But, he added, "You can't stop this in the House, and it's going to be very difficult to stop in the Senate."

The Democrats are expected to begin moving the budget through Congress this month with hopes of winning approval by early April. Congressional Republicans say it's unlikely that they would be able to block the budget because they don't have enough votes.

Congress follows special rules for approving the annual budget that make it hard for the minority party to block it. Senate rules requiring 60 votes to end debate are suspended. That requirement had made three Republican senators' support for the stimulus bill crucial, even though Democrats enjoy large majorities in the House and Senate.

Mr. Obama in his weekly radio address Saturday framed the budget debate as a fight against special interests. "I know they're gearing up for a fight as we speak," he said. "My message to them is this: So am I."


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123592142217703383.html

[Vincardog]

1. It's almost as if we are relocating the headquarters of the COUNTRY from Wall St to Washington, D.C.