Democrats facing tough reelections sought to distance themselves yesterday from President Obama’s 2013 budget proposal, criticizing it for not doing enough to rein in federal spending.
The Hill reports:
In the Senate, Jon Tester (Mont.) and Claire McCaskill (Mo.), two Democrats who represent states where Obama is struggling, said Obama’s proposal had fallen short of what was necessary to rein in federal debt.
"Unfortunately, this budget still includes unacceptable deficit levels, and I’m ready to work with Democrats and Republicans alike to tackle this problem," McCaskill said.
And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has kept quiet on the budget, declining to give it the full-throated praise that Democratic leaders in the House have poured onto the proposal. Reid isn’t up for reelection in November, but his fragile hold over Democratic control of the Senate is certainly up in the air.