Bush targets $22B in Democrat spending

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush is targeting Democrat-introduced budget bills that add some $22 billion to his $1 trillion proposed budget.

The Washington Post said the White House has made the rare move of sending letters to several Cabinet secretaries calling for them to reject the extra spending measures that include additional spending on healthcare for veterans, education, medical research and infrastructure improvements.

At least one secretary, Mike Leavitt of the Department of Health and Human Services has acted on Bush's prompting, with a letter to House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., the Post said.

"I am confident the (administration) amount set for the Department of Health and Human Services will enable us to successfully accomplish our mission," even though that amount is tens of millions of dollars less than Congress proposes, Leavitt wrote.

Oct. 1 is the start of the country's fiscal year, although many bills have yet to be debated and lawmakers are considering ways to extend the budget deadline, the Post said.