Obama Sends Top Aides To Capitol To Defend Budget

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is dispatching his Treasury secretary and budget director to Capitol Hill to defend the tax increases and spending plans in his proposed budget for 2010.

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is expected to draw sharp questions Tuesday from the House Ways and Means Committee about tax increases Obama wants for people who make more than $200,000 a year.

Republicans are calling fees that Obama wants to charge industry for greenhouse gas pollution a hidden tax, saying they will raise electric bills for most Americans.

White House Budget Director Peter Orszag is expected to testify before another House committee. The Senate Budget Committee is set to hear from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the long-term impact of Obama’s proposals.