< Back to Front Page Text size +

Obama targets budget waste

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor January 7, 2009 10:49 AM

Calling it one of his most important appointments, President-elect Barack Obama this morning announced a new White House job -- chief performance officer -- to set standards for federal agencies and hold them accountable.

He named Nancy Killefer, a director at McKinsey & Company, the prominent management consulting firm, and former assistant treasury secretary in the Clinton administration.

Obama has pledged to go line-by-line through the federal budget to root out waste and inefficiency -- a vow made even more important with projections of record deficits. The Congressional Budget Office is expected to estimate the deficit at $1.2 trillion this fiscal year and Obama said, "Trillion-dollar deficits will be a reality for years to come."

Those figures don't include Obama's economic stimulus plan, which is expected to total $775 billion over two years, and which he said he knows will add to the deficit, but is necessary.

Washington must change the way it does business so it is no longer squandering billions of dollars on failed or unneeded programs, he said.

"We can no longer afford to sustain the old ways," he said. Such changes are needed even in good times, but in bad times are absolutely essential, he said.

Asked about the size of the stimulus package, Obama said while he and his team are still working with Congress, he expects it will be on the "high end of our estimates" -- which have been reported as $675 billion to $775 billion -- but not as high as the $1 trillion-plus some economists are advocating.

In large measure, he said, that is because of the concerns about the mushrooming deficit.

  • CommentComment
  • EmailEmail
.

It doesn't matter what I say. The liberal media, who made sure Obama was elected, regardless of his past, now will spin things as positively as possible to make him look good. Count on it, within days after his inaguration, they will bespinning how improved the economy and everything eise is. Miraculously. The lib media takes us all for fools. We are not. They will be caught in the act as the problems truly continue and likely will get worse because of Obama.

Posted by Paul Early January 7, 09 11:28 AM
.

Amen, I could have not said it any better

Posted by Harold January 7, 09 12:25 PM
.

Paul Early, if you want to rant about off topic issues create an account on blogspot.

"This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it." Foon Rhee help us out lets cut some waste from the comment section!

As for Obama, I like the line by line approach but I will reserve any optimism until I see a result. If by the next buget cycle we see a reasonable percentage reduction in government spending then I will say Obama is the man!

Posted by Issac Morris January 7, 09 12:28 PM
.

What about the bloated military budget?
Like, why is the military's space budget alone a third bigger than NASA's entire budget?? 30% of our taxes go to the military!
The aerospace industry and military industry make so much money off of the government, they're one of the main reasons we keep going to war, so that they can keep selling all their weapons and subcontracting all their services.
It's time to cut programs that foster war and not peace.

Posted by Nirv January 7, 09 12:48 PM
.

PAUL EARLY, IT SEEMS THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU JUST DON'T GET IT. HERE IS A MAN THAT IS TRYING TO UNDO BUSH'S MESS, AND GET RID OF HIS DISHONEST FRIENDS AND ALL THEIR DEEDS, AND YOUR UNKIND WORDS WILL GO NOWERE. PEOPLE LIKE YOU WE DON'T NEED !!!!!!

Posted by charles zimmer January 7, 09 12:55 PM
.

If Obama's plans will work why would we have Trillion dollar deficits for years to come?Are we redistributing,or stimulating the economy?If he knows the plan will not work in the "years to come",why bother,unless he is going to do exactly like the right wing says and implement more entitlement programs etc.I was willing to give him the doubt and the hope of something better,but now the logic behind his own words seem scary.Inflation pays for this ,how much?Enough to complete the wiping out of all the 401 plans for the workers in this country?Is Obama a Republican determined to hamstring the middle and lower classes forever,to control the wealth,or does he want everyone the same?Someone explain where we are going?

Posted by anabasis January 7, 09 01:15 PM
.

Paul Early you are a pathetic paranoid lunatic. And I don't even particularly like Obama.

I am just sick to death of the mantras. All the mantras that you true believers of every color are constantly spewing.

Shut up.

Posted by James D. Newman January 7, 09 01:17 PM
.

To poster #1: Your first statement is correct, it doesn't matter what you say; as we are learning from President Obama, it is what you DO that counts.

It's ironic that your main complaint seems to be about "spin", yet spin is exactly what your post represents. You are setting the stage for success by claiming that we will be "told" that Obama's plans have been successful.

I have a better idea, Paul; why not measure actual results? I'm betting that Obama's performance will outshine Dumbya's by light years.

Posted by Jerry Ulibarri January 7, 09 01:31 PM
.

So now the entire MSM is part of a left wing conspiracy, even FOX NEWS. I understand the frustration can cause irrational thought. After Jan 20, what else will the right have to do except finding something negative to attack the left. It is a shame that we decided NOT to have a right wing conservative dictatorship by continuing 4 more years of negative progress under republican leadership.

Posted by Bill Spickerman January 7, 09 02:40 PM
add your comment *(If you put a URL in your comment, it must be relevant )
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.

News from the Washington Bureau

Afghanistan wary of US plan to send more advisers

Afghan officials have begun to push back from the Obama administration's plans to send hundreds of advisers to the country, complaining the Americans are often overpaid, underqualified, and unfamiliar with the culture of the country. (Globe Staff, 2:15 a.m.)

Mass. keeps an eye on US bill’s funding ban

Massachusetts officials are closely monitoring an abortion funding ban in the sweeping health care legislation before Congress to make sure that it does not restrict women’s access to abortion coverage in the state. (Globe Staff, 11/11/09)

Survey raises new doubts on military’s ‘don’t ask’ policy

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration received more research yesterday to help make its case for allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces. (Globe Staff, 11/10/09)

Lieberman’s threat of filibuster looms large

When a recent conversation among Senate centrists turned to insurance company antitrust concerns, Joe Lieberman boasted of his bona fides: As Connecticut attorney general in the 1980s, he sued the industry. (Globe Correspondent, 11/9/09)

Health care headache for House Democrats

WASHINGTON - Democratic House leaders scrambled to round up enough support yesterday for their sweeping health care overhaul, getting last-minute help from White House advisers on the eve of a historic vote scheduled for today. (Globe Staff, 11/7/09)

Patrick wraps up two-day visit to Washington

WASHINGTON - Governor Deval Patrick swept through Washington yesterday, wrapping up a two-day tour to advance the state’s interests in health care, economic development, and transportation - a trip that also let him showcase his access to the city’s most powerful Democrats, including President Obama. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Health care opponents intensify late attack

WASHINGTON - The sweeping health care overhaul package before Congress is under an 11th-hour attack over a pair of emotional issues, abortion and immigration, that are complicating Democrats’ efforts to piece together the coalition they need to pass the bill. (Globe Staff, 11/6/09)

Public’s opinions of health care overhaul efforts have familiar ring

Americans’ opinion of the health care proposals now before Congress is eerily similar to public sentiment about the Clinton health reform initiatives in 1994, according to an analysis published online yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine - and that may not bode well for Democrats. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Frank reconsiders legislation after worry raised on loopholes

House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank, under fire from some fellow Democrats and consumer groups for carving out what they call loopholes in legislation designed to prevent another economic meltdown, said in a letter released last night that “there may be a problem here’’ and that he wants to reconsider. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Moderate Democrats fear shift to GOP

Democratic moderates who will determine the fate of much of President Obama’s domestic agenda heard an early warning from this week’s off-year elections: Congress had better do something about the economy, or sitting lawmakers will lose their jobs in 2010. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)
archives