Bush: Session ended on 'high note'

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush praised and chided Congress for its year-end work on helping U.S. citizens, the environment and the war on terror.

During a news conference, Bush said the just-concluded session "ended this year on a high note" because congressional leaders moved beyond political differences to pass bills that protect middle-class taxpayers from the alternative minimum tax, an energy bill raising fuel efficiency standards, help for homeowners wanting to stay in their homes and funding troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

However, waiting until the final days of the session "is not a responsible way to run government," Bush said. He chided Congress for "not being responsible" about hundreds of earmarks -- special projects for a state or congressional district -- tucked into a $555 billion, 1,400-page omnibus spending bill.

"I am instructing Budget Director Jim Nussle to review options for dealing with the wasteful spending in the omnibus bill," he said.

He expressed disappointment that renewing an intelligence-gathering bill, scheduled to sunset Feb 1., was not passed, "as if the terrorist threat would go away on Feb. 1, 2008."

He said the renewal should be the top priority when Congress reconvenes next year.