Bush invites congressional leaders to talk about spending, other issues

President Bush has invited the bipartisan congressional leadership to the White House Wednesday for a wide-ranging discussion expected to cover fiscal 2008 appropriations, energy, healthcare and modernization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a White House spokeswoman said Thursday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., requested a meeting last week to discuss the appropriations issue in particular, with about $23 billion separating Democrats and Bush on fiscal 2008 spending. The meeting might hold the key to the confirmation of former House Budget Chairman Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, to be the next Office of Management and Budget director, a top Democrat said.

"Certainly it will be affected by it," said Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D.

Nussle continued his charm offensive Thursday in front of Conrad's panel, which must vote on Nussle before the nomination is sent to the Senate floor. The major issue has been the spending levels envisioned by Bush and Congress.

"Within both of those numbers, there is a lot of agreement. We disagree on the top line possibly, that may be the debate and conversation regrettably today," Nussle said. "But we all know embedded within those numbers there's a lot of agreement on how to secure our country, how to make sure our next generation is prepared, how to ensure that our families have the kind of security they need for the long term."

Despite Nussle's accommodating words, Bush continued to sound a combative tone on spending issues. Speaking in Philadelphia Thursday, he chided Democrats for failing to send him any of the 12 fiscal 2008 spending bills even though the end of the fiscal year is just over two months away.

"They're now getting ready to leave for their August recess without having passed a single spending bill," Bush said. "At the very least, members of Congress ought to finish the spending bill for the Department of Defense before they go on recess, so I can sign it into law."

The House plans to vote on the $459.6 billion Defense measure next week, but the Senate will not consider it until after Labor Day, when it will likely become embroiled in the debate over the next installment of Iraq war funding.

Senate Budget ranking member Judd Gregg, R-N.H., said the Democratic strategy was to stall and not pass the majority of the bills, setting the stage for an "intended train wreck" at the end of the year.

Conrad took issue, saying, "I've just attended a meeting in which the overwhelming sentiment was to try to conclude work on appropriations bills in regular order."

Other Democrats expressed concern over Bush's veto threats on college tuition-aid legislation and a measure to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program. As with appropriations, Nussle said he did not yet have the authority to negotiate.

That did not placate Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Pete Domenici, R-N.M., who complained that OMB was dragging its feet on funding a loan guarantee program he authored as part of the 2005 energy law. Domenici made a veiled threat suggesting the situation could affect Nussle's confirmation. "Other than that, I think you're wonderful," he said.