Democrats Growing More Nervous

It seems the party of “no” is having its effect on the party in power.

Some Democrats are increasingly concerned about President Obama’s $787 billion financial fix for the ailing economy, and are demanding greater transparency on further spending.

With the White House seemingly comparing the nation’s economy to a house on fire, some congressional Democrats are asking, where’s the fire truck?

As a nod to moderate concerns, Obama took steps to make his budget more transparent. He included items former President George W. Bush passed separately in recent years to obscure the true operating cost of the government, such as the money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, an annual multibillion-dollar fix of the fees Medicare pays physicians and Alternative Minimum Tax relief for the middle class.

Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Indiana, who along with Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson and Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman is one of the so-called Gang of 15 — a coalition of moderate Democratic senators — says it’s all about the messaging.

“Like getting health care costs under control is important to the economy and getting the deficit down,” he said. “Sustainable sources of energy at reasonable prices is also important to the economy. Dealing with the financial crisis is obviously important to the economy.”

House Democrats, CNN has learned, heard that message in a meeting with top economists, who predicted the president’s stimulus plan will fall short of saving or creating three to four million jobs, as he promised.

“Over the first two years about 2 1/2 million jobs saved and created,” said economist Allen Sinai. “A little less than the administration and perhaps Speaker Pelosi has said … the jobs created may be a little disappointing.”

But budget hawks in the party don’t like the sound of that.

“I mean, if we were to take a vote this afternoon, the stimulus package would probably fail,” said Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-North Dakota. “If they want substantial, more public funds committed, they’re going to have to go out there and explain precisely how this is going to work.”

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