Posted on 05/03/2005 12:29:57 PM PDT by pratherdc
The Grand Old Spending Party: How Republicans Became Big Spenders
by Stephen Slivinski
Stephen Slivinski is director of budget studies at the Cato Institute.
Executive Summary
President Bush has presided over the largest overall increase in inflation-adjusted federal spending since Lyndon B. Johnson. Even after excluding spending on defense and homeland security, Bush is still the biggest-spending president in 30 years. His 2006 budget doesn’t cut enough spending to change his place in history, either.
Total government spending grew by 33 percent during Bush’s first term. The federal budget as a share of the economy grew from 18.5 percent of GDP on Clinton’s last day in office to 20.3 percent by the end of Bush’s first term.
The Republican Congress has enthusiastically assisted the budget bloat. Inflation-adjusted spending on the combined budgets of the 101 largest programs they vowed to eliminate in 1995 has grown by 27 percent.
The GOP was once effective at controlling nondefense spending. The final nondefense budgets under Clinton were a combined $57 billion smaller than what he proposed from 1996 to 2001. Under Bush, Congress passed budgets that spent a total of $91 billion more than the president requested for domestic programs. Bush signed every one of those bills during his first term. Even if Congress passes Bush’s new budget exactly as proposed, not a single cabinet-level agency will be smaller than when Bush assumed office.
Republicans could reform the budget rules that stack the deck in favor of more spending. Unfortunately, senior House Republicans are fighting the changes. The GOP establishment in Washington today has become a defender of big government.
All I keep thinking is Mark Sanford for President in 2008.
Too depressing to even comment.
I keep thinking Mike Pence in 2008!
Yes, Bush has unfortunately not pleased me in this area.
I spent years of my life trying to elect Republicans to office so that we could control congress and reduce spending. Of course, I am not going to start voting democratic, but the RNC is nuts if it thinks I will ever get involved in or donate another dime to the party. Who would have thought that the Republican Congress would be worse than the Democratic one?
This is the one area where I am disappointed in Bush.
This along with Bush's stance on illegal immigration are my two most serious issues.
BTTT
Painful stuff . . .
Agreed. Bush could learn a lot from Mark Sanford. The President and Congress have been spending money like a bunch of drunken sailors. Where is the fiscal restraint?
"This along with Bush's stance on illegal immigration are my two most serious issues."
These are mine as well.
And for Bush to get up in front of people and say with a straight face and perfect sincerity that he has sent a budget that reins in spending is outrageous. I think he proposed $33 billion in 'cuts' and those were over several years.
I agree completely.
Sanford is a good man, but I've drifted away from him and towards Mike Pence for 2008. Plus, Sanford has insisted he's not running.
"This is the one area where I am disappointed in Bush."
and border/port security and illegal immigration!
There are two men that can save us. Coburn/Tancredo '08.
Bush doesn't have a "stance on illegal immigration"....he is by and large IGNORING it
But...but...our President looks so lovely carrying those tree branches with his cowboy hat on! And the red tie! < /Day In the Life bot post >
Democrats & Republicans both apparently agree that Govt should continue to grow, not shrink. The only difference is to what degree & that difference gets smaller by the day.
"I spent years of my life trying to elect Republicans to office so that we could control congress and reduce spending. Of course, I am not going to start voting democratic, but the RNC is nuts if it thinks I will ever get involved in or donate another dime to the party. Who would have thought that the Republican Congress would be worse than the Democratic one?"
You have said everything I have been thinking - AND said it very well, I might add! The Republicans just think they control the Senate. When you count the RINOs who always go over to the other side, the RATs still control the Senate. Frist, et al., just haven't realized it.
Let me make this a third "Mike Pence in 2008"
Elect Pence and watch Government shrink.
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