Bush Makes One Last Legacy Bid in Final Speech to Congress

[babylonsister]

Bush Makes One Last Legacy Bid in Final Speech to Congress
By CQ Staff


President Bush planned to use his State of the Union speech Monday to make a last push for his administration’s priorities before a skeptical Democratic-controlled Congress.

The president also planned to outline new initiatives, including an executive order targeting earmarks and a $300 million grant program for poor children in underperforming schools.

Bush was expected to prod Congress to quickly pass a $150 billion economic stimulus plan his administration negotiated with House leaders in a rare show of bipartisanship. He also was expected to remind lawmakers of priorities that have languished, such as making permanent tax cuts enacted early in his administration and the reauthorization of his signature 2002 education overhaul (PL 107-110).

In a move likely to anger Democrats and disappoint fiscal conservatives, President Bush planned to issue an executive order Tuesday directing agencies to ignore future earmarks included in report language rather than legislative text. The order would not apply to earmarks for fiscal 2008, however.

He also was to announce in his speech his intent to veto appropriations bills that do not cut earmarks in half from fiscal 2008 levels.

“The people’s trust in their Government is undermined by congressional earmarks,” Bush was to say, according to excerpts released by the White House.

Democrats, who last week outlined a legislative agenda challenging Bush and congressional Republicans on a broad front, were likely to be disappointed.

Bush planned to repeat his call for continued funding for military operations in Iraq, including the “surge” of troops that began last year, and demand Congress make permanent a temporary law giving his administration broad authority to monitor the communications of suspected terrorists.

He also planned to announce the dispatch of 3,200 additional Marines to Afghanistan.

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http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002661835

[gateley]

1. I'd sure like to see Bush debate some of our Dems. Biden comes to mind. nt