Obama Names Orszag Budget Director
President-elect Barack Obama named Peter Orszag as his budget director and said his job will be to conduct a thorough review of federal spending programs and eliminate programs that are not needed.
Speaking to reporters in Chicago, Obama said with the economy in crisis, "Budget reform is not an option. It's a necessity."
Echoing Abraham Lincoln, Obama added, "I will ask my economic team to think anew and act anew."
Obama's focus on careful federal spending marked something of a contrast from Monday, when he declared that restoring the economy to health took priority over the budget deficit.
He called on Congress to prepare an economic stimulus program for him to sign as soon after Inauguration day as possible, saying he wanted to "hit the ground running".
Barack Obama, US President-elect said:
"I think it is very important for the American people to understand that we are putting together a first class team and for them to have clarity that we don't intend to stumble into the next administration. We are going to hit the ground running. We are going to have clear plans of action."
Orszag is the director of the Congressional Budget Office.
AP
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