by Peter Nicholas
President-elect Barack Obama announced today that he is creating a new high-level position to wring waste and inefficiencies from government, as part of a broader push to bring more discipline to federal spending.
At a news conference, Obama introduced a Chief Performance Officer -- Nancy Killefer, a partner at the management consulting firm McKinsey and Company, and a former Treasury Department official in former President Bill Clinton's administration from 1997-2000.
Part of her job will be eliminating unnecessary spending - an essential goal at a time when the federal deficit is expected to reach $1.2 trillion, Obama said. He cast Killefer's appointment as one of the most important he will make as president. And he said he would order his new Cabinet and staff to meet with Killefer following his inauguration on Jan. 20 "to discuss how they can run their agencies with greater efficiency, transparency and accountability.''
Obama conceded that his economic timulus package would add to the deficit, but he defended it as a step needed to revive the ailing economy.
His transition team estimates that the two-year stimulus would range from $675-$775 billion. Taking questions from reporters, Obama said he is consulting with members of Congress about the "final size of the package,'' but added that "we expect it will be on the high end of our estimates.''
He seemed to reject calls for an even more aggressive stimulus bill in the range of $1 trillion. He cited as a reason "the constraints and concerns we have about the existing deficit.''
Republican members of Congress have insisted the stimulus not be freighted with dubious pork-barrel projects. Obama sought to allay such fears, pledging to root out "earmarks'' -- spending that favors special interest groups.
He said the goal is to "use this money wisely, effectively, in a two-year time span so we're not creating long-term obligations that would add to the structural deficit that exits, but would provide an immediate boost to the economy.''
On other matters, Obama reiterated that he did not want to stake out a position on the fighting in Gaza, cautioning that he is not yet president and did not want to send mixed signals that could undermine the Bush administration's diplomatic efforts.
Though he is willing to give detailed prescriptions on the economy, he said foreign policy is a different matter, requiring more discretion.
The president-elect said his comparative silence on the Middle East should not be construed as a lack of "concern.'' He added that, "until I take office it would be imprudent of me to start sending out signals that we are running foreign policy when I am not legally authorized to do so.''
As for the high drama surrounding his replacement in the U.S. Senate, Obama sidestepped a question about whether Roland Burris should be seated as the junior senator from Illinois.
"That is a Senate matter,'' he said. "But I know Roland Burris. Obviously, he is from my home state. I think he's a fine public servant. If he gets seated then I'm going to work with Roland Burris, just like I'll work with all the other senators to make sure that the people of Illinois and the people of the country are served.''
On a rainy day in Washington, with problems piling up on both the foreign and domestic fronts, Obama allowed himself one light-hearted retort.
"Welcome to Washington,'' a reporter said.
"It's great to be here,'' the president-elect replied.
Comments
From the above interview:
1. On the Middle East, Obama doesn't take a stand.
2. On the seating of Roland Burris, Obama doesn't take a stand.
3. On earmarks, Obama doesn't say anything specific.
4. On the so-called "stimulus" bil, Obama doesn't give any details, doesn't even know how much it will cost.
5. On government waste, Obama plans to (hold your breath at his boldness) "discuss" it.
Leadership, Obama-style.
Posted by: Change You Can Believe In | January 7, 2009 12:41 PM
"Change" you don't read or listen very well. The only thing he won't take a stand on is foreign policy-- until the 20th.
"Though he is willing to give detailed prescriptions on the economy, he said foreign policy is a different matter, requiring more discretion."
Posted by: Flo | January 7, 2009 3:55 PM
Do you think they'll have the guts to yank Pelosi's private plane? She's no better than those greedy CEO's of the auto industry is she? Let her fly commercial,
Posted by: vla | January 7, 2009 4:07 PM
Obama punts! Roland "should not take the appointment" Burris to Roland "that's a Senate concern" Burris", Roland's FREE! Blago won this round.
To quote Biden "is this a joke"?...CPO Killefer. Hope she has a staff the size of Homeland Security...does she get a "magic marker" to void the excessive spending and earmarks of Congress? Are we supposed to by this? Obama-mania at its best. Gotta love it
Posted by: Bubba Porter | January 7, 2009 5:31 PM
How is Ms. Killefer to function? Congress routinely loads up bills with earmarks before sending them to the White House. Without a line-item veto, the president is faced with signing a bill or vetoing the whole thing; frequently, the president finds himself over a barrel, with a bill in front of him whose main purpose is really needed, but which has all sorts of other stuff attached to it like ticks on a dog.
What is Ms. Killefer going to be able to do beyond scowl and stamp her feet?
Posted by: DaveB | January 7, 2009 6:12 PM
Obama said in an interview today that there "will be no earmarks" in the anticipated stimulus bill.
That's confidence.
Watch & see if the bill actually passes without earmarks and you'll have some sense of how afraid Congress is of him.
On the waste issue, what about the $500,000 set of White House china George & Laura ordered?
Maybe Barack could auction it off piece by piece on ebay to raise money. Souvenir hounds would probably snap it up.
Posted by: ornery | January 7, 2009 6:38 PM
Ms. Killefer is to have sweeping authority--basically to sweep up the mess left by Bush.
Posted by: mort | January 7, 2009 8:27 PM
Ornery, the more Obama wants the stimulus bill, the more Congress will load it up with bridges to nowhere, rebuilds of ships that the Navy doesn't want but that keep a shipyard in some congressman's home district open, and so on. They'll put him over a barrel too. Mark my words.
Posted by: DaveB | January 7, 2009 8:51 PM