Day 51
March 11, 2009
"The President made a promise that he would veto any bill that had earmarks in it. This one has 8,500."
—Virginia Foxx, Republican Representative from North Carolina, criticizing President Obama's decision to sign the omnibus spending bill despite the earmarks in it
The President provides his critics with lots of ammunition on a day when his actions don't appear to match his words. In remarks from the White House, he calls on lawmakers to abide by a new set of standards when proposing earmarks, but then moments later he signs a $410 billion omnibus bill on last year's budget crawling with the pesky critters. To his credit, he admits the bill is "imperfect" before signing it, but he claims that the bill is a relic of the prior era. Still, top Republicans — including his former rival John McCain — say he missed an opportunity and could have used his veto pen to send a message to those pushing pork projects.
Apart from that, women are the theme at the White House on this Wednesday. The President introduces a new council on women and girls, to be led by senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, and First Lady Michelle Obama joins Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Foggy Bottom to present awards for International Women of Courage.