Obama asks Dems for budget momentum

President Obama made a strong sales pitch to House Democrats on Monday night to quickly and forcefully pass a budget, saying doing so would pave the way for major healthcare and energy reforms planned for later this year.

“I need your help in getting the budget done,” Obama told Democrats, according to a person in the room. “It will give us momentum to get healthcare and energy done this year.”

{mosads}The House is planning on leaving intact reconciliation instructions to the Senate, which, if included in the final budget conference report, will allow the Senate to avoid needing 60 votes to pass controversial legislation. Reconciliation has drawn criticism from conservative House Democrats, centrist Senate Democrats, and just about every Republican in both chambers.

Obama spoke to the Democratic Caucus for “a good chunk of time” during his 40-minute appearance before a packed room in the Capitol Visitor’s Center, but still took nearly a dozen questions, according to aides.

Although a number of issues other than the budget have been dominating recent news – including the restructuring of the U.S. auto industry and Obama’s plan to send 4,000 additional troops into Afghanistan – the President took all but one or two questions on the budget.

Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Penn.), a member of the Budget Committee, said Obama talked “forcefully” about his budget.

The president also praised the House for passing a budget that closely mirrored the priorities laid out in the administration’s budget proposal, calling it a “distillation of core Democratic values,” according to the White House.

“There were questions, sure, about how to go forward,” Schwartz said. “But there was not a lot of pushback.”

Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), a former leader of the Blue Dog Coalition – whose 51 Democratic votes will be critical in passing the budget in the House – did not say if the Blue Dogs will rally behind the House budget, but indicated that the coalition was very supportive of a number of provisions.

“The budget includes a commitment to statutory paygo, which is very important to us,” Ross said.

And Ross also hinted that he, for one, welcomed significant investments in healthcare and energy legislation that the president is pushing for momentum for.

“These are tough times,” Ross said. “Part of the way we grow our economy is through investments in energy, healthcare and the environment.”

After the caucus meeting, top House Democrats told reporters that the budget will be the latest in a string of Democratic actions to fix the economy.

“Yes we will pass a budget this week, and when we do so, it will fit comfortably among other initiatives that have already been passed,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), referencing the economic stimulus package and bolstered healthcare funding for children.

“It is part and parcel of the plan to bring America back, which the president pointed out is what he pledged to do to the American people when he ran and it’s what each and every one of his pledged to do as well,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

Despite the push from the White House for a strong win, House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.) said that Obama didn’t need to sell his plan to House Democrats, who stuck together in defeating all major Republican amendments to the budget during a committee hearing last week.

“The President could say with that kind of backing, with that kind of send off, ‘It’s okay. I don’t need to come over and lend my support to it. It’s in good shape as it is,'” Spratt said. “But this demonstrates that passion and commitment to what he’s doing.”