Bush strikes conciliatory note, praises Congress

President Bush on Thursday praised leaders from both parties for passing key bills prior to the end of the congressional session and refused to gloat even though Democratic leaders caved to many of the White House’s demands.

Bush said the country can be proud of Congress’s action over the past few days, lauding the legislature for fending off the Alternative Minimum Tax, improving energy security and funding the war in Iraq.

{mosads}“I want to thank the members of both parties for their hard work in these areas,” Bush told reporters. “I’m pleased that we have been able to end this year on a high note by moving beyond our differences and achieving important results for the American people.”

Bush also passed up on a chance to declare victory in light of not having had to cave much to Democrats as Congress sprinted toward the finish line.

“I think that all of us deserve credit for getting some things done,” Bush said, adding, “I really don’t sit here and say, ‘Well, you know, he won; they lost,’ or, ‘They won; he lost.’ It's just not my nature.”

The president said the final results of the negotiations were “good for the country.”

But Bush’s praise was not universal.

He criticized Congress for not passing the appropriations bills individually, and also attacked the number of earmarks included in the omnibus spending bill.

“The congressional leaders ran in the last election on a promise that they would curb earmarks,” he told reporters. “And they made some progress and there's more transparency in the process. But they have not made enough progress.”

Bush stated that he would instruct Office of Management and Budget Director Jim Nussle “to review options for dealing with the wasteful spending in the omnibus bill.”