Obama confident bank tax plan will pass

? President Barack Obama expressed confidence Saturday that lawmakers would approve his proposed tax on banks to recover bailout money, despite opposition from Republicans and the financial industry.

“Like clockwork, the banks and politicians who curry their favor are already trying to stop this fee from going into effect,” he said, using his weekly radio and Internet addresses to promote the plan he announced this past week.

“The very same firms reaping billions of dollars in profits, and reportedly handing out more money in bonuses and compensation than ever before in history, are now pleading poverty. It’s a sight to see.”

If banks can afford to pay out all those bonuses, he said, then they can repay taxpayers, too.

“We’re not going to let Wall Street take the money and run. We’re going to pass this fee into law,” he said.