LOS ANGELES TIMES: President Obama, perceived by critics as free-spending in his first two years in office, is expected to call for a temporary halt to non-security discretionary spending in his State of the Union speech. Job creation also will be a main focus.
WASHINGTON — President Obama will call for a five year freeze on non-security discretionary spending in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, White House officials said, in a bid to help reduce the deficit and counter public perceptions that he spent too freely in his first two years in power.
Obama will also discuss plans to find budget cuts wherever he can, the White House said. The military, for example, isn't covered by the proposed freeze, yet Obama will advance a separate five-year plan, drawn up by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, to achieve $78 billion in savings, the White House said. >>> Peter Nicholas, Washington Bureau | Tuesday, January 25, 2011
