McDonnell: Obama budget will be 'bloated'

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Republican Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell predicted President Obama's spending plan will be a "bloated budget that doubles down on failed policies of the past."

Delivering the weekly GOP media address Saturday, days before Obama is to release his budget, McDonnell said it likely will "raise taxes … ignore the growing entitlement crisis … [and] fail to address the $15 trillion, and growing, national debt."

"In short, we can expect that this will not be a proactive budget built to promote fiscal responsibility and future prosperity," McDonnell said. "Rather, it appears we'll see a bloated budget that doubles down on the failed policies of the past."

McDonnell admitted Republicans "don't know the specifics" of Obama's budget, but said the president's record enables them to "reasonably predict" what he'll propose.

He outlined Republican priorities.

"We know that when we limit government to free up capital, and reduce onerous regulations and litigation, we spur private-sector job creation," McDonnell said.

"In short, we believe the role of government in an economic recovery is simple: At every level, governments should pass budgets on time that fund core functions like education, transportation, and public safety well, and don't waste precious taxpayer dollars."