Quote from Scataphagos:
Duh! Responsibility for the budget rests with the House. The Prez can "request" till the cows come home...
The president can also veto. Plus, congress doesn't write, it amends.
Here's the way it's worked:
Republican president + Democratic congress = deficit
Republican president + Republican congress = deficit
Democrat president + Republican congress = lower deficit or balanced budget
Democrat president + Democrat congress = lower deficit