Obama: I didn't punt on entitlement reform in federal budget
| Washington
President Obama pushed back Tuesday on bipartisan criticism that his 2012 budget proposal fails to address the unchecked growth of government entitlement programs 鈥� foremost Medicare and Medicaid, which are big contributors to the nation鈥檚 unsustainable fiscal picture.
In an hour-long press conference, Mr. Obama suggested the omission was by design, and that the goal is to reach consensus in a negotiation, not through public posturing. Obama also asserted that the report last December by his bipartisan deficit commission, which called for far steeper deficit reduction than in his 2012 budget, has not been 鈥渟helved;鈥� it still provides the 鈥渇ramework鈥� for a conversation.
"Look at the history of how these deals get done," Obama said. "Typically it's not because there's an Obama plan out there. It's because Democrats and Republicans are committed to tackling this in a serious way."
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Obama referred to the 1983 deal struck by President Ronald Reagan and Democratic House Speaker Tip O鈥橬eill addressing the insolvency of Social Security as a model of bipartisan problem-solving. He suggested the same approach in tackling entitlement reform and tax reform.
鈥淭his is going to be a process in which each side, in both chambers of Congress, go back and forth and start trying to whittle their differences down until we arrive at something,鈥� Obama said. That鈥檚 his 鈥済oal,鈥� he said, not to 鈥済et a good headline on the first day.鈥�
Patience urged for 'negotiation process'
Obama also chided the news media for being 鈥減retty impatient,鈥� not just on his approach to the deficit commission but also on Egypt, health-care reform, and repeal of 鈥渄on鈥檛 ask, don鈥檛 tell.鈥� By referencing those three historic events that took place on his watch, Obama in effect promised progress, sooner or later, in addressing the nation鈥檚 structural deficits. He left the timing vague.
鈥淲e're going to be in discussions over the next several months,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 mean, this is going to be a negotiation process.鈥�
When asked about the possibility of a government shutdown, if Congress and the president cannot agree upon funding levels beyond March 4, Obama again preached bipartisan negotiation. He warned against making 鈥渟ymbolic cuts鈥� that could endanger the economic recovery.
鈥淟et鈥檚 use a scalpel. Let鈥檚 not use a machete,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd if we do that, there should be no reason at all for a government shutdown.鈥�
Expects Iranians to have 'courage'
On events in the Middle East, Obama called on governments throughout the region not to crack down on peaceful protesters.
On the situation in Iran, where protesters have been shot, beaten, and arrested, he said, 鈥渕y hope and expectation is that we're going to continue to see the people of Iran have the courage to be able to express their yearning for greater freedoms and a more representative government, understanding that America cannot ultimately dictate what happens inside of Iran any more than it could inside of Egypt.鈥�
Obama said that his administration is concerned about stability throughout the region. His message to 鈥渇riend and foe alike鈥� is that 鈥渢he world is changing.鈥�
鈥淵ou have a young, vibrant generation in 鈥� within the Middle East that is looking for greater opportunity,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd ... if you are governing these countries you've got to get out ahead of change, you can't be behind the curve.鈥�
