He called on Congress to send him a “clean” continuing resolution to allow the government to operate when the new fiscal year begins next month.

Bush indicated that he is opposed to Congress sending him an omnibus spending bill, saying it would “make it easier for members to sneak in all kinds of special projects, put in wasteful spending or pork barrel that they are not willing to debate in the open.”

The White House has criticized Democratic leaders for adding $22 billion in discretionary spending to the president’s budget request. Bush said such an increase in spending could only be financed by raising taxes.

“At a time when families are working hard to pay their mortgages or pay for their children going to college, now is not the time to be taking money out of their pocket,” Bush said.

Democrats responded forcefully.

“Given the record budget deficits and spiraling debt that were triggered by his policies over the last six and one-half years, President Bush simply has no credibility when it comes to the issue of fiscal responsibility,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said.

“The spending levels in our appropriations bills are reasonable and responsible, helping us restore a balanced budget by 2012,” Hoyer added. “In fact, Democrats are not now seeking to increase spending by unreasonable amounts; we are fighting to restore irresponsible cuts to key domestic programs that have been proposed by the president.”