[AntiGuv]

Took me a bit to find the figures. Total federal spending under Bush's current budget policy is about 20.2% of GDP versus a 22.3% average under Reagan. Of that, non-military discretionary spending accounted for 17.1% of Reagan's budgets and accounts for at least 19.4% of Bush's budgets. That means that Reagan's non-military discretionary spending as a percent of GDP checked in at about 3.81% whereas Bush's checks in at 3.88%.

Moreover, none of that was at Reagan's sole discretion since every spending bill passed and signed during his term had to be introduced by a Democratic House.

[AntiGuv]

Correction: That should be 3.92% of national GDP for GWB's non-military discretionary spending (versus 3.81% under Reagan).

[FreeReign]

Moreover, none of that was at Reagan's sole discretion since every spending bill passed and signed during his term had to be introduced by a Democratic House.

The president at his own discretion submits the budget to the House through the OMB. The president at his own discretion signs the budget after congress sign it.

The Congress can't rewrite what is submitted. The congress can refuse to sign the appropriations.

Reagan submitted and signed those federal budget