OBAMA'S MONEY TROUBLES - AT 3:54 P.M. ET: 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Barack Obama is preparing for one of the toughest fights of his young presidency as Congress begins work on a budget that may trim his spending plans but back his healthcare, energy and education proposals.

Obama will meet fellow Democrats in the Senate on Wednesday to try to shore up support for a budget blueprint that likely would increase the deficit more than initially estimated by the White House -- it was forecast at $1.4 trillion for next year...

...Republicans say Obama's budget plan expands government and raises taxes on the rich and small businesses at a time when the country is mired in a deep recession. Obama, for his part, is trying to keep fiscally-conservative Democrats on board.

COMMENT:  This is the time for Republicans to take a stand, and come up with their own budget, creative and responsible. 

I love it when we learn that Congress may trim spending, but back the Obama vision of health care, energy and education.  Consider the last:  I maintain that we spend too much money on education in this country, and get too little for it.  Education is not underfunded.  The funds are, too often, poorly used.  But the Democratic Party is heavily influenced by teachers' unions, who want the check writing to go on, unquestioned.  Let Republicans come up with an education alternative that is responsible, and demands accountability.

March 24, 2009