KDVR - Bennet Camp Clarifies Opposition of Obama's Spending Plan

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By Web Staff

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet clarified his opposition to President Obama's spending plan to FOX31 News Saturday night.

"Let me be clear, I will oppose President Obama's new spending plan," Bennet said in a statement. "His plan should only be funded through existing recovery funds. If an alternate pay-for exists, it should be used to pay down the deficit."

On Thursday a Denver Post headline that read: "Bennet won't support Obama's new stimulus plan," prompted FOX31 News to ask a spokesman in Bennet's Senate office in Washington, D.C., to clarify Bennet's position on Obama's new transportation initiative.

Bennet spokesperson Adam Bozzi stood by the senator's statement on Friday but backtracked from the full opposition characterized by the Denver Post.

"We'd have to see what the bill actually is," Bozzi said. "We're not going to speculate on bills before we see them."

Obama unveiled a series of infrastructure investments and tax incentives for businesses this week.

But with the public increasingly worried about the mounting deficit, officials don't want to call the proposals a stimulus, a phrase that calls to mind the $814 billion stimulus Congress passed last year.

Speaking at a White House news conference Friday, Obama said he has no problem with people saying he is trying to stimulate job growth. But he, too, refrained from specifically labeling his new proposals a stimulus.

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