Bush urges House to help keep spending in line

President Bush Wednesday praised the House for helping him pass the administration's domestic agenda and called on House Republicans to help him hold the line on fiscal 2003 spending.

"He complimented the House for moving so many pieces of legislation," said House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Christopher Cox of California after a GOP Conference meeting with Bush.

Cox said Bush also urged House Republicans to work with him in holding the line on spending, particularly against Senate Democrats. "He said because the Senate would not, could not, did not pass a budget [resolution] ... he said it looks like he's going to have to act as the [budget] enforcer," Cox said.

Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., recalled Bush saying: "You're not getting any help from the Senate. They can't even pass a budget. You have an ally in me."

Bush spoke to the House Republican Conference for about 20 minutes on topics ranging from domestic policy to the war on terrorism. Bush then met individually with groups of GOP members before departing for a law enforcement event.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., Thursday indicated that he has not decided how to move the various budget-related items coming before the Senate, saying it was unclear whether a debt ceiling increase or the supplemental spending bill will move in tandem with some type of budget legislation.

When asked about a budget resolution after the regular White House breakfast with President Bush, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., Daschle talked about "budget parameters," adding that such parameters "are critical if we're going to maintain the kind of discipline that is going to be required budgetarily."

But Lott said, "I think it's very unfortunate the Senate's not going to be able to take up a budget resolution." Lott added, "Having said that, we've got to have some agreed-to numbers that we're going to live with, both in terms of the appropriations annual funds and also entitlement programs--with enforcement."