White House rejects spending bill, sight unseen

The White House responded sharply on Saturday to reports that the congressional Democratic leadership was putting the finishing touches on a huge omnibus spending bill that includes funding for the ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

{mosads}Office of Management and Budget Director Jim Nussle issued a blunt veto threat and lambasted Democratic lawmakers for assembling the massive appropriations bill more than two months after the end of the fiscal year.

“If presented a bill like the one described in today’s press reports, the President would veto it,” Nussle said.

The measure would provide roughly $500 billion in federal government spending, including about $50 billion for the wars, according to press reports.

“Although the Administration has not seen the legislation, according to press reports it would include $18 billion in additional domestic and emergency spending above the president’s budget,” Nussle said. “When added to emergency domestic spending Congress already included in the Defense Appropriations bill, this so-called compromise would result in more excess spending than even the Democrats’ original budget included.”

In a joint statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) blasted the White House statement.

“Although he admits he has not even seen the bipartisan legislation that would fund critical priorities such as border security, homeland security, and putting more police officers on the street, the president has recklessly threatened to veto it,” the Democratic leaders said. “For a President already lacking in credibility, it is dangerous to issue veto threats based on press reports alone.”

Nussle indicated, however, that the administration does not want the continuing showdown over federal spending to result in a government shutdown as the winter holidays approach and urged Congress to pass another continuing resolution to keep the government open and maintain Pentagon and war spending.

This categorical rejection by the White House of the potential omnibus bill comes as Democrats are trying to get GOP support for their spending proposal. In addition to criticism from the White House, Democrats also can be expected to be called out by their liberal base for not tying the Iraq war funds to efforts to being U.S. soldiers home.

The House plans to leave for the year by the end of the coming week, while the Senate is expected to remain in session for an additional week.