Lew to talk budget before Ways and Means

Jack Lew, President Obama’s budget director, is set to testify before the House Ways and Means Committee next week about the president’s budget plan, the committee announced Wednesday.

Lew’s appearance, slated for Feb. 16, is scheduled to come a day after Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is expected to sit before the committee. The president’s budget plan for the 2012 fiscal year is due to drop Feb. 14. 

In a statement announcing the appearance, Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), the Ways and Means chairman, said that he looked forward to talking with Lew about how to reduce government spending. 

“Republicans are committed to reducing our nation’s deficits and debt which are already a drag on the U.S. economy and our ability to create badly needed jobs,” Camp said.

In a New York Times op-ed published over the weekend, Lew outlined some cuts expected to be in the budget that are close to the president’s heart, including programs that aim to help the poor and clean up the Great Lakes. The cuts detailed, however, added up to $775 million, while the Congressional Budget Office has estimated a $1.5 trillion deficit for this year.

Geithner and Lew are also scheduled to testify before the House Budget Committee next week.