Day 38
Feb. 26, 2009
"You know, there are times where you can afford to redecorate your house, and there are times where you need to focus on rebuilding its foundation."
—President Obama, laying out his first budget that he will send to Congress
"The era of Big Government is back, and Democrats are asking you to pay for it. The Administration's plan, I think, is a job killer, plain and simple."
—John Boehner, House minority leader, responding to Obama's first budget
A little more than a month into office, the President offers a pricing plan for the expansive agenda he has promised the American people, and Washington immediately grapples with the sticker shock. Obama outlines a 10-year budget plan at the White House to pay for overhauling health care, curbing global warming, expanding the government's role in education and shifting more costs to corporations and the wealthiest taxpayers. His 2010 fiscal year budget totals nearly $3.6 trillion and includes few measures to cut costs, despite his proclamations that his plan would be "cutting what we don't need to pay for what we do."
His first budget also includes a $1.75 trillion deficit by the end of the fiscal year, something the Republicans pounce on in their criticism. They are quick to charge that his proposals to raise some taxes would hurt the economy and vow to challenge the President's agenda on partisan principles.