Barack Obama travels to Capitol Hill to sell his stimulus plan
Barack Obama spent part of Tuesday afternoon on Capitol Hill, trying to sell his economic stimulus plan to House and Senate Republicans,
It was a tough sell.聽 Before the presidential visit, House Republicans held a closed door meeting where Minority Leader John Boehner told members they should vote against the measure in its current form because it contained too much wasteful spending.
Welcoming GOP ideas
During his visit, Obama said he would 鈥渃ontinue to welcome good ideas鈥� from the Republicans.聽 But reports from within the meeting with House members said Obama refused Republican requests to have more of the $825 billion economic rescue package be made up of tax cuts.
After the session, Obama said 鈥淚 don鈥檛 expect 100 percent agreement from my Republican colleagues, but I do hope we can put politics aside.鈥�
Minority Leader Boehner said members of his party 鈥渆njoyed the conversation."聽
"I think the president enjoyed the conversation.聽 And I look forward to continue to work with him to improve the package in the coming days," Boehner said.
We're more transparent
Before Obama had left the Capitol, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi鈥檚 office put out a news release arguing that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act had been crafted in a process that was 鈥渇ar more open, inclusive, and transparent鈥� than past practice.聽 A House vote on the measure is slated for Wednesday evening.
Drifting Democrats
The odds for bipartisan approval do not look strong in the Senate either. Committee action on the measure is expected to begin there Wednesday.聽 On NBC鈥檚 Today program Tuesday morning, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said the Democratic party 鈥渟eems to be drifting away from what [Obama] said he wanted which is a package that is at least 40 percent tax cuts and earmark free.鈥�
On Monday night, thirty Senate Republicans voted not to confirm Timothy Geithner to be Obama鈥檚 Treasury Secretary.聽 Also voting no were 3 Democrats and one independent.
A many legged stool
Speaking to reporters at the Capitol, the president called the stimulus plan 鈥渏ust one leg in a multi-legged stool鈥� to revive the economy.聽 Obama also said 鈥渕uch better financial regulation鈥� was needed as well as steps to get credit flowing again, measures to deal with troubled assets that banks hold, and improved coordination with other countries on the global financial crisis.
