Obama tells allies that public supports his agenda

Obama tells allies that public supports his agenda

WASHINGTON (AP) — Reassuring House Democrats that "we are in this together," President Barack Obama predicted that unity will help their party maintain its high standing with the public as they pursue an ambitious agenda in the face of economic turmoil.

The House and Senate are set this week to take up companion budget outlines that constitute Congress' initial response to the $3.6 trillion fiscal plan for 2010 that Obama proposed last month.

On the eve of his first trip to Europe, the president rallied lawmakers Monday in a closed-door session in the Capitol. He said they must deal with education, health care and clean energy in spite of the weak economy.

Obama said the reason his budget predicts such large deficits is not because of new spending for those three top agenda items but because of structural deficits that he inherited.

Speaking to fiscal hawks in the House, Obama said he is "serious as a heart attack" about addressing the nation's long-term deficit problems, according to notes taken by a House aide who required anonymity to describe the private session.

"We are in this together," Obama said.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said Obama said his administration remains focused primarily on the economy but added that "'we can do more than one thing at a time.'"

Obama appeared before Senate Democrats last week, where he received supportive questioning as moderates queasy over big deficits and rapidly rising debt held their tongues.