House Spending Chairman Obey On Bush War Funding: Are You Serious?

President Bush today rolled out further details about his supplemental budget request to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As he announced it, Bush said he was ready for the nettles that the "emergency" request would bring.

"I know some in Congress are against the war, and are seeking ways to demonstrate that opposition," the President said in his press conference. "I recognize their position, and they should make their views heard."

Rep. David Obey (D-OH), the chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, lined right up to make his view heard. He said this White House is like no other when it comes to budgeting:

It's amazing to me that the President expects to be taken seriously when he says we cannot afford $20 billion in investments in education, health, law enforcement and science, which will make this country stronger over the long term, but he doesn't blink an eye at asking to borrow $200 billion for a policy in Iraq that leaves us six months from now exactly where we were six months ago.

Only this White House would call this progress.

The President needs to rethink his position on both fronts.