Police officers bundled up against the cold patrol the East Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, January 24, 2011. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will propose an overall U.S. budget freeze and a ban on the practice of lawmakers earmarking funds for special projects during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, ABC News reported.
ABC said the president would propose new spending for innovation, education and infrastructure but those increases would be part of a broader budget freeze.
Obama has long been critical of the process of earmarking, in which lawmakers insert language into legislation requiring spending on pet projects in their home districts.
Obama will use the address to a joint session of Congress to try to rise above party politics after his Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives in the November elections.
But he also must prove he is serious about tackling the budget deficit, which will require action that could unleash a bitter bipartisan fight.
He is expected to stress the search for common ground with Republicans to boost jobs and growth, but was expected to oppose Republican calls for major budget cuts.
Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Will Dunham
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