Gentle Reminder that Congress Plays a Role in Budget-Making In a press release yesterday, House Appropriations chair Rep. David Obey (D-WI) set forth opening arguments in his usual direct terms regarding the unfolding Executive-Legislative FY 2008 budget debate. Obey's comments come against the backdrop of the president's repeated threats to veto any spending bill larger than what the White House requested. The additional funding provided under the budget resolution reflects a change from the President's priorities of ... 2.2 percent change in the discretionary budget. That 2.2 percent is the difference between an Executive Branch headed by a President that needs to work with an independent Congress, and a King who does not. The discretionary budget is the "non-autopilot" portion of the budget. The very title - DISCRETIONARY - indicates it is the thinking portion of the budget. We are supposed to use our judgment to decide funding levels. ... We do not intend to impose our budget priorities on the Administration, but our votes will not be tied to OMB computer runs. They will be the votes of an independent Congress trying to recognize legitimate policy priorities.