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President Bush on Wednesday criticized a Congress that has not “managed to pass many important bills” and is “just getting started” on funding bills. At the beginning of a White House press conference, Bush launched an attack against Democrats for not doing enough to get the nation’s business done. “There’s little time left in the year, and Congress has little to show for all the time that has gone by,” the president said. Bush hammered Democrats on sending him State Children’s Health Insurance Program legislation that they knew would be vetoed, trying to make changes to legislation updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and failing to pass appropriations bills. “With all these pressing responsibilities, one thing Congress should not be doing is sorting out the historical record of the Ottoman Empire,” Bush said, referring to House plans to take up a resolution that would label the mass killings of Armenians nearly 100 years ago a “genocide.” Bush noted that there is bipartisan opposition to the measure, which passed a House panel earlier this month. “Congress has more important work to do than antagonizing a democratic ally in the Muslim world, especially one that’s providing vital support for our military every day,” he said. Asked if it was all the Democrats’ fault that bills are not moving, especially with regard to veto threats from the White House on several key pieces of legislation, Bush said he believes it is. “I’m not part of the legislative branch,” the president said. “All I can do is ask them to move bills. It’s up to the leaders to move the bills.” Bush was not all critical. He noted that the White House and Congress had found common ground on funding the troops and passing a temporary FISA fix. In addition, the president lauded the Senate Judiciary Committee for beginning its confirmation hearings of Michael Mukasey, his pick for attorney general. |
