Bush draws heat from conservatives on highway bill (Reuters)

(Woohoo! Now he's pissing off the RW "Club for Growth," This IS a very good thing (for us).)

Bush draws heat from conservatives on highway bill

Sat Jul 30, 2005 05:23 PM ET

By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite big legislative wins this week, President Bush is drawing heat from some conservatives over his plans to sign a highway bill that critics say warranted a veto because it is chock full of extra spending. Bush was pleased by a mid-July report from his budget office that slashed the fiscal 2005 deficit forecast to $333 billion -- down nearly $100 billion from its February projection and lower than last year's $412 billion shortfall.

But Bush, whose first four years in office saw a shift from record surplus to record deficits, has some persuading to do with members of his own Republican Party when he extols a commitment to fiscal discipline. Many Republican activists are upset over the six-year $286.5 billion highway bill approved by Congress on Friday. Bush's aides made clear he would sign the bill even though he previously pledged to veto any measure above $284 billion.

"This bill is an egregiously bloated spending bill and this all happens as we move to the final phase of the spending season," said Pat Toomey, head of the Club for Growth, a group that raises money for Republican candidates. By backing down on a pledge to hold the line on highway funds, Toomey said Bush was sending a signal of laxity to Congress as it prepares to finalize spending bills this fall, which often include funds for members' pet projects in their districts. "How will his future threats be taken seriously?" Toomey asked.

<http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=9222274&src=rss/domesticNews>
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