President Obama’s new budget director came under heavy fire in the Senate on Tuesday from Republicans who accused the White House of releasing a deceptive and damaging 2013 budget request.
The tense hearing featured a demand by ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) that acting Director Jeff Zients consider resigning and Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) cutting Sessions off at one point with loud bangs of the gavel.
It was a rough debut for Zients, who assumed the position just this month after Jack Lew became Obama’s new chief of staff.
“Let me ask you this. If you are incorrect, if you are incorrect in saying that you do not increase spending more than current law, would you consider resigning your office?” Sessions demanded. “I am disappointed that we can’t get an honest response to these difficult questions at this important time in our history.”
For more on Zients' budget hearing, click here.
