TIMING IS EVERYTHING: OBAMA'S BUDGET SAME DAY AS NH PRIMARY

[Draggingtree]

ASSOCIATED PRESS:

Feb 8, 11:38 AM EST

 

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: OBAMA'S BUDGET SAME DAY AS NH PRIMARY

BY ANDREW TAYLOR / ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The main thing to know about President Barack Obama's final, $4 trillion budget is that it comes on the same day as the New Hampshire primary, ensuring it gets minimal attention with all the focus on the White House contenders.

 

The timing cements the impression that Obama realizes a Republican-led Congress is unlikely to embrace his spending priorities. Typically, the budget is released on a Monday, but White House press secretary Josh Earnest says Tuesday's release allowed administration employees and journalists a chance to watch the Super Bowl.

 

The 2017 budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 will combine proposals for new spending on infrastructure, education and combating opioid abuse with tax increases on corporations and wealthy individuals to keep deficits down. This will avoid proposing cuts to popular programs like Medicare, student loans or food stamps.