Some in GOP wary as Bush budgets soar

Richmond Times Dispatch ^ | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[putupon]

WASHINGTON - Conservatives wait warily as President Bush makes final decisions about his election-year budget, three years into an administration on whose watch spending has mushroomed by 23.7 percent, the fastest pace in a decade.

While Bush has emphasized repeatedly the need to rein in spending, overall federal expenditures have grown to an estimated $2.31 trillion for the budget year that started Oct. 1.

[yoswif]

The reckless spending by professional politicians calling themselves Republicans allows the media to label professional politicians endorsing tax increases to balance the budget "fiscal conservative".

Court action based on the unfairness of intergenerational tax rates may be the only way to limit the power and cost of government to a level that is sustainable over multiple generations. Without fiscal sustainability, the U.S. will simply dissolve in a sea of debt just like the Soviet Union.

[Puppage]

And they're still raiding the Social Security surpluss revenue

There is no SS surplus. That is a fallicy. People receiving SS today are getting it directly from those people working today. However, the govt. does take money from SS & purchases bonds and other money-growth funds.

[meenie]

The administration does prepare a proposed budget and submits it to Congress. The administration with the "me too" Congress is responsible for the excessive spending. There is no doubt that spending has increased greatly in the Bush years over the Clinton years.

The Clinton years saw a divided government that provided a check on any unreasonable increase in spending. The problem arises in our government system that has the three different branches of government. When two branches of the government unite, we lose our check and balance system.

The results can be seen in the first term of the Bush administration. During the first two years, when the Demos held the Senate under their thumb, we all griped about the obstruction. It held a certain amount of restraint on the Executive branch. Usually no legislation is better than legislation.

The setup of total control since the Democrats lost their majority has been a disaster. It is not that the Democrats have become more frugal, which they haven't, but that divided government has failed to function. This is the reason that I cannot get too excited about a decisive majority in the executive and legislative branches.

[Land of the Free 04]

Bush and the Republican-run Congress have enacted a $400 billion, 10-year enlargement of Medicare; $87 billion in expanded benefits for farmers

And many "conservatives" lap it up. Disgraceful.

[ex-snook]

"Bring back Gridlock!!! "

Amen. Bush has been a disaster for conservatism. Maybe he won't run and a conservative will be nominated. Wishful thinking.

[Redbob]

Some?
How about "A Whole Helluva Lot of Republicans Wary"?

[WhiteGuy]

It's my understandng that the SS "tax" collected from employees and employers is currently in excess of the amount needed to fund annual expendatures.

The excess goes into the general fund.

If this is incorrect, please explain.

[Puppage]

the SS "tax" collected from employees and employers is currently in excess of the amount needed to fund annual expendatures

Hmm, that may very well be. I am not up on that, however perhaps this is how they're able to buy the bonds,etc.???

[WhiteGuy]

Where did you hear that bonds were bought?

That's the part I had never heard........

I'm relying on my memory (possibly not good?) of the Bush-Gore debates where both talked about the "lock box" for the surplus funds, (which I don't belive ever happened)

[Doctor Stochastic]

Correct. SS is a pay-as-you-go plan with the pretense of holding "accounts" for the users. This is commonly known as a "Ponzi Scheme" in contrast to Medicare which is a chain letter.

[WhiteGuy]

Chain letter.........HA

Next I guess the Treasury Department will be sending a cut-and-past version of the Nigerian scam letter asking for banking info............

[Puppage]

I'm relying on my memory (possibly not good?)

LOL. Me, too.

I can't recall where I heard it, but I recall it being form a source "in the know". Also, when they pay the money back to SS, I don't believe there's any interest on it that's due. Kinda sucks for us. I will have to search for this info again.

[WhiteGuy]

I think I'll shoot an e-mail to my congressman and ask for a detailed explanation.

(I'll look forward to receiving a form letter in return)

[Puppage]

I'd LOVE to see what he/she has to say. Have a nice afternoon.

Pete

[WhiteGuy]

I'll let you know.

You have a nice afternoon as well!

[reelfoot]

Re your post #7: If Bush is opposed to the massive spending increases, I suppose his veto pen must have run out of ink after vetoing so many bills, eh?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Don't have to. The (Gary Hart & Andrew Young designed) Patriot Act allows that without the scam attached.

[Mudboy Slim]

"While Bush has emphasized repeatedly the need to rein in spending, overall federal expenditures have grown to an estimated $2.31 trillion for the budget year that started Oct. 1. That is up from $1.86 trillion in President Clinton's final year, a rate of growth not seen for any three-year period since 1989 to 1991."

Interesting...'89-'91 was when Dubyuh's daddy was in office, and Bush, Sr.'s spending spree (and associated tax increase) were responsible fer scaring off the conservative base and ushering in 8 years of DerSchleekmeister!! Hopefully, Dubyuh will learn from his daddy's missteps and get this outta-control spending growth under wraps afore it's too late!!

FReegards...MUD

[putupon]

We get the new immigration policy tommorrow, I can hardly wait.

I at least hope they have some hoops players and maybe coaches legalized, then there would at least a small silver lining.