Even as many Republicans attack the administration for choices such as ending White House tours or canceling early snow removal from Yellowstone National Park, Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee in particular fear that giving Obama greater flexibility would erode Congress' control over the federal purse, which is enshrined in the Constitution and zealously guarded.

NPR: Senate Democrats Prepare Government Funding Bill

"I rang them on the off-chance and they have already cleared all the snow in front of the house where the funeral is going from, " he said.

BBC: Snow closes nearly 300 schools in South Yorkshire

With a snow storm barreling down on the Washington region, the White House said the dinner could be postponed if the weather deteriorated throughout the day.

NPR: Obama Reaches Out To Congressional Republicans

In a village a little further down the mountain I come across 77-year-old Masanori Sato, standing on the roof of his house, shovelling snow.

BBC: Tackling northern Japan's record snow

How could I stay abreast of what was going on in my house if, when the snow came, my every footstep in the yard would leave a trail of incrimination and such clear proof of a prowler on the grounds as to get Diana on the phone to the town police?

NEWYORKER: Wakefield

White House press secretary Tony Snow said that Bush would not be acting immediately on any of the recommendations.

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