[WOSG]

"Now yer speaking to my heart!! I've said before that we oughtta be closely tracking spending as a percentage of GDP and look to knock it down 1% a year as long as it takes to get us down to 15%, 12%, 8% ..."

Then take a look at this - Bush in his rado address today is proposing the spending limit mechanism whereby this might happen:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1069034/posts?page=12#12

My suggested "Cap" would be this: Total Federal discretionary spending rises only the rate of inflation, until federal spending is less than 15% of GDP.
Total non-discretionary spending is also capped at inflation+population of recipients and they force some mechanisms in place if it grows too fast (eg if health care costs go up to much, cut back on some things).

[Mudboy Slim]

"To assure that Congress observes spending discipline, now and in the future, I propose making spending limits the law. This simple step would mean that every additional dollar the Congress wants to spend in excess of spending limits must be matched by a dollar in spending cuts elsewhere. Budget limits must mean something, and not just serve as vague guidelines to be routinely violated. This single change in the procedures of the Congress would bring further spending restraint to Washington." -President Bush, 1/30/04

Will THIS git picked up by the Sunday shows?! How 'bout by Rush?! This is the sorta over-arching spending restraint that needs to be at the forefront of the upcoming campaign, imho!! This would force Congress to make decisions as to priorities in Federal spending. My priority is defending this country from enemies here and abroad, and I think we could make the case that this priority takes precedence over payin' folks fer sittin' on their arses!!

Thanks fer the link...maybe Dubyuh's finally coming to the realization that outta-control spending is not acceptable to those of us who want him to serve a second term!!

FReegards...MUD