Obama picks budget boss
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Barack Obama intends to name Peter Orszag as his budget director, Democratic officials said Monday, turning to Congress' chief adviser on spending and taxes as he fills out his economic team.
Orszag, 39, is serving a four-year term as head of the Congressional Budget Office.
If confirmed by the Senate, he would head the Office of Management and Budget, the agency that makes sure a president's priorities are translated into spending decisions.
The Democratic officials said Orszag's appointment was scheduled for Tuesday in Chicago, where Obama was holding his second news conference in as many days.
Obama announced four members of his economic team on Monday, including Timothy Geithner, currently the president of the New York Federal reserve, to be treasury secretary.
The officials who described Obama's plans to appoint Orszag did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to divulge his selection before the president-elect announced it.
At his Monday news conference, Obama said an economic stimulus package to revitalize the economy takes priority over deficit concerns. But he also said, "We'll have to scour our federal budget, line by line, and make meaningful cuts and sacrifices, as well, something I'll be discussing tomorrow."
It was not clear whether he intended to identify specific areas for cuts on Tuesday, or whether he would state a commitment to spending restraint in more general terms.
Orszag, 39, is serving a four-year term as head of the Congressional Budget Office.
If confirmed by the Senate, he would head the Office of Management and Budget, the agency that makes sure a president's priorities are translated into spending decisions.
The Democratic officials said Orszag's appointment was scheduled for Tuesday in Chicago, where Obama was holding his second news conference in as many days.
Obama announced four members of his economic team on Monday, including Timothy Geithner, currently the president of the New York Federal reserve, to be treasury secretary.
The officials who described Obama's plans to appoint Orszag did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to divulge his selection before the president-elect announced it.
At his Monday news conference, Obama said an economic stimulus package to revitalize the economy takes priority over deficit concerns. But he also said, "We'll have to scour our federal budget, line by line, and make meaningful cuts and sacrifices, as well, something I'll be discussing tomorrow."
It was not clear whether he intended to identify specific areas for cuts on Tuesday, or whether he would state a commitment to spending restraint in more general terms.
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