Friday, January 12, 2012

President Barack Obama is asking Congress for the power to shrink the federal government and merge federal agencies in an effort to make government more efficient and consumer friendly.

The president is calling it "a big idea"

Obama is trying to rally Republicans in Congress to get behind the plan, which could save $3 billion over 10 years.

Under the proposal, six major trade and commerce agencies with overlapping programs would be merged. The Commerce Department would be among those that would cease to exist.

President Ronald Reagan is the last president who had the type of reorganizational power that Obama is seeking from Congress.