GOP freshman congressman stands up to accuse Obama of broken promises; president pushes back

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Freshman rep presses Obama on broken promises

BALTIMORE — A freshman congressman from Utah challenged President Barack Obama, accusing him of breaking promises to block lobbyists from his administration and to eliminate spending on pet projects.

At a House Republican retreat in Baltimore, Rep. Jason Chaffetz also criticized the first-term president for his claims that Republicans have been obstructionists to governing. Chaffetz says he tried to take Obama up on his offer to go line-by-line through proposed health care legislation, but the White House was silent.

A sometimes-combative Obama took Republicans’ questions. He was pressed on his changes of positions, including why the negotiations on overhauling health care have not been publicly broadcast as promised. Obama said he is doing the best he can amid many challenges.