Behind Closed Doors, Dems Vent About Obama’s Budget Lapse

Frustration with President Barack Obama’s hands-off approach to the budget debate has spread from Republican ranks to members of his own party. Democratic members of Congress now fear that Republicans will win the debate on federal spending if Obama doesn’t step up, the newspaper Roll Call reported.

During a closed-door meeting Tuesday, White House Chief of Staff William Daley got an earful from several House members who pressed to have the president become more engaged.

One aide said, “They did have an exchange, and several members did express some frustration and concern about the low-key approach of the president. What was expressed is, we’re losing the budget debate and when are you going to lead?” Roll Call reported.

Almost 25 GOP senators, led by Dan Coats, R-Ind., sent a letter to the White House calling on the president to show “strong leadership to address the financial crisis and entitlement programs.” Congress has been funding the government with a series of stopgap measures and Republicans and now Democrats are growing frustrated with the inability to come to a more permanent agreement, Roll Call said.

Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., said his colleagues “think the president and his staff and the [Office of Management and Budget] people and the White House people have got to be involved in helping reach this final decision. I hope and pray that we don’t have to do another CR. We’ve got to get this done, so we’re going to do everything we can to cooperate, facilitate,” Roll Call reported.