WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama told his House Democratic allies Monday that despite a weak economy, now is the time to take on ambitious agenda items such as education, health care and clean energy — or else they won’t get done.
Obama’s closed-door appearance comes as the House and Senate take up companion budget outlines this week that constitute their initial response to the $3.6 trillion fiscal plan for 2010 submitted by Obama last month.
Typically, the first year of a presidency — when a president has political capital from a winning election — is the most opportune time to take on big issues.
Obama assured the assembled lawmakers that the country has confidence in Democratic leadership and that continued unity is needed to produce results that will in turn keep the party’s standing high with the public, according to notes taken by a House aide who required anonymity to describe the private session.
“We are in this together,” Obama said.
Speaking to fiscal hawks in the House, Obama said the reason his budget predicts such large deficits is not because of new spending for health care, energy and education but because of structural deficits that he inherited.
Obama said he is “serious as a heart attack” about addressing the nation’s long-term deficit problems.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said Obama indicated his administration remains focused primarily on the economy but added that “we can do more than one thing at a time.”‘
Obama last week appeared before Senate Democrats, where he received supportive questioning as moderates queasy over big deficits and rapidly rising debt held their tongues.
Meanwhile, debate started in the Senate on that chamber’s response to the budget Obama submitted in February.
