US President Barack Obama challenged the US’ vested interests to a legislative duel yesterday, saying he would fight to change healthcare, energy and education in dramatic ways that would upset the status quo.
“The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too long,” Obama said in his weekly radio and video address. “But I don’t. I work for the American people.”
He said his ambitious budget plan, unveiled on Thursday, would help millions of Americans, but only if Congress overcomes resistance from deep-pocket lobbies who seek to sway lawmakers.
“I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight,” Obama said, using tough-guy language reminiscent of his predecessor, former president George W. Bush. “My message to them is this: So am I.”
‘ALMOST RADICAL’
Some analysts said Obama’s proposals were almost radical. But he said all of them were included in his campaign promises.
“It is the change the American people voted for in November,” he said.
Nonetheless, he said, well-financed interest groups would fight back furiously.
Insurance companies will dislike having “to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare [government health] coverage [for the elderly], but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs,” the president said.
“I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly [US]$50 billion and make college more affordable. I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly [US]$30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy,” he said.
BUDGET
Passing the budget, even with a Democratic-controlled Congress, “won’t be easy,” Obama said. “Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington.”
Congressional Republicans continued to bash Obama’s spending proposals and his projection of a US$1.75 trillion deficit this year.
Almost every day brings another “multibillion-dollar government spending plan being proposed or even worse, passed,” said Republican Senator Richard Burr, who gave the his party’s weekly address.
He said Obama was pushing “the single largest increase in federal spending in the history of the United States, while driving the deficit to levels that were once thought impossible.”
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