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Orszag column blindsides White House (Ian Swanson, 09/07/10, The Hill)

The White House was blindsided Tuesday by former budget director Peter Orszag’s dramatic break with President Obama on tax policy.

Orszag, in a column in The New York Times, called for all of the Bush-era tax cuts to be extended for two years, including rates for the wealthiest taxpayers, which the administration wants to phase-out for deficit reduction.

The defection from someone who closely advised Obama on fiscal policy just six weeks ago left spokesman Robert Gibbs in an awkward spot at his daily press briefing. He made it clear the administration was surprised by Orszag, saying the White House did not see the column in advance and did not know Orszag’s opinion on the matter.