While spending is authorized perhaps in one year, the year it is spent, I believe, is when it is attributed. So, no, I would leave the numbers as reported as I think the year each President spent the money is when the money is recognized. I could be wrong about that.
I agree. It’s murky.
Bush signed TARP but he didn’t modify it to save GM and Chrysler the way Obama did. I put that spending mostly on Bush but with an asterisk.
Bush signed a continuing resolution lasting until March of ‘09 that did include increases in discretionary spending although Obama signed off on the rest of ‘09 that doubled down on what Bush signed.
I do think the loss of revenue from 2008 to 2009 can be ascribed to Bush as that correlates best with the stock market on December 31st and Obama wasn’t even in office yet.
The stimulus is, of course, all Obama’s doing.