President pushes for new authority to nix unnecessary spending
The White House has proposed legislation which would provide the
president with a new tool for cracking down on spending. The
legislation would establish an expedited procedure under which
Obama could submit funding rescissions, or cancellations, back
to Congress after a spending bill is passed, forcing an up-or-
down vote on those rescissions.  The 2010 Reduce Unnecessary
Spending Act, which Obama is sending to Congress on Monday,
would require Congress to consider the president's
recommendations that certain elements of a spending bill be
rescinded as a package, and a vote on that package without
amendment held within a specific timeframe.  "The proposal
provides the president with important but limited powers that
will allow the president and Congress to work together more
effectively to eliminate unnecessary spending, including
earmarks," said Jeffrey Liebman, acting deputy director of the
Office of Management and Budget. "Knowing this procedu