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• Democrats Have “Barely Budged” In Developing Any Significant Spending Cuts. “Republicans --
and much of the news media -- measure the cuts from the 2010 budget, the last one signed into law.
Under that scoring, the Republicans have cut $60 billion and the Democrats about $10 billion. The
two sides are still $50 billion apart, but under this scenario, the Democrats have barely budged.” (Glenn
Kessler, “Obama And The White House's 'Halfway' Fixation With The Budget,” The Washington Post’s “The Fact Checker” Blog, 3/8/11)
• Democrats “Might Re-Up” Their Complaints About Obama’s Lack Of Leadership And Biden’s
Absence. “A senior House Democratic aide said Democrats were ‘at least somewhat’ relieved when
Obama dispatched Vice President Joseph Biden to meet with Hill leaders last week try to hash out a
budget blueprint. But that meeting ended without a breakthrough, and with Biden now on a
weeklong trip in Europe, Democrats’ concerns about the lack of White House involvement may
intensify. ‘After these votes fail and with Biden gone, it might re-up,’ the aide said.” (Jennifer Bendery, “Fears
Grow As Obama Hits Trail,” Roll Call, 3/8/11)
Democrats Are Frustrated With Obama’s Lack Of Leadership On The Budget. “Democratic senators are
frustrated with the low-profile President Barack Obama has kept during the rancorous spending debate
dominating Capitol Hill, urging him Tuesday to take an assertive role.” (Manu Raju, “Democrats: Barack Obama Must Lead On
Budget,” Politico, 3/1/11)
• Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ): “I Would Hope That They Would Ratchet It Up Big-Time.” “‘I
would hope that they would ratchet it up big-time,’ Democratic Senator Robert Menendez of New
Jersey said of the White House, echoing sentiments aired privately at a closed-door lunch meeting of
Senate Democrats on March 1, according to several people who attended or were briefed on the
session.” (Julie Hirschfield Davis, “Democrats Press Obama To Take Stronger Stance In Debate On Spending Cuts,” Bloomberg, 3/3/11)
• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): “Well, I think they [White House] should be involved
more, and I think they will be…” (Manu Raju, “Democrats: Barack Obama Must Lead On Budget,” Politico, 3/1/11)
Nine Senate Democrats Spent Time “Whacking The White House For Not Being More Engaged” On
Spending. “At a closed-door session on the budget, nine Democratic senators spent parts of the 30-minute
meeting whacking the White House for not being more engaged, according to people who were present.”
(Manu Raju, “Democrats: Barack Obama Must Lead On Budget,” Politico, 3/1/11)
Democrats Displaying “Open Irritation” With Obama’s Inability To Lead. “The open irritation with the
White House comes just as Reid announced support for the Republican-led bill which passed in the House
Tuesday and funds the government for another two weeks, while slashing $4 billion.” (Manu Raju, “Democrats: Barack
Obama Must Lead On Budget,” Politico, 3/1/11)
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) Demanded To Know If The White House
Had A Serious Plan For Spending. “‘If there is a plan, people here deserve to have some sense of what it is,’
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said at the meeting, according to sources familiar
with his remarks.” (Manu Raju, “Democrats: Barack Obama Must Lead On Budget,” Politico, 3/1/11)
• “At One Point, Conrad Questioned Whether The White House Has A ‘Secret Plan’ Before
Another Senator Interjected.” (Manu Raju, “Democrats: Barack Obama Must Lead On Budget,” Politico, 3/1/11)