Posted on 02/01/2006 8:49:34 AM PST by Reagan Man
President George W. Bushs State of the Union address called for restraining federal spending, reforming runaway entitlements, and making permanent the tax cuts that are set to expire in the years ahead. President Bush proposed much less new spending than is typical in a State of the Union address and called for savings of $14 billion next year alone. However, the President declined to reveal his goal for total spending next year, and the tradeoff he envisions between new spending and any savings will not be known until his budget is released next week. As the President said, progress in slowing the growth of federal spending must continue. The real test for President Bush this legislative year will be whether he enforces spending restraint with a veto, if necessary.
The President emphasized that 77 million retiring baby boomers will push the cost of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to an unsustainable level. Indeed, these programs are projected to double in size over the next 25 years, from 8 percent of GDP today to over 16 percent, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Unless these programs are reformed, the nation will face tax increases that bring the total level of taxation to European levels, the elimination of nearly all other federal programs, or a massive, unprecedented federal debt that would place the entire economy at risk. To address this looming crisis, the President proposed a bipartisan commission on entitlements that will focus on actual policy solutions rather than political gamesmanship. Commission recommendations for entitlement reform should quickly become legislation, because each year of delay makes reform more painful and more costly.
While competitiveness is an important issue, the Presidents call for large increases in research and development spending is not the answer. Since 2000, such spending has surged 58 percent to $132 billion with little to show for it. Instead, these spending programs have placed Washington in the impossible role of selecting marketplace winners and losers through its grants. The result thus far has been too many programs like the notorious Advanced Technology Program, which provides millions of dollars to Fortune 500 companies and has very little technological innovation to show for it. Lawmakers should focus on fixing the current failed research and development programs rather than layering more costly programs on top of them.
The Presidents calls for eliminating 140 outdated federal programs and paring back congressional pork projects will help restrain the growth of government. However, last year Congress terminated only 24 of the 99 programs that the President had hoped to end, despite strong evidence of these programs failures. Acknowledging the need to reform the role of earmarks in the budget process, President Bush should exert strong leadership to end the corrupting earmarking practice. The record 13,999 pork projects in 2005 forced hard-working taxpayers to fund things like the Please Touch Museum and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. More than merely wasteful, pork invites corruption, encourages big government, distracts lawmakers from vigorous oversight, and compromises lawmaker independence. Eliminating outdated programs and wasteful pork projects will make Washington more efficient and accountable. If necessary, a veto would be instrumental in enforcing discipline.
Think of the real economic prosperity this country would have enjoyed had Reagan's policies been the rule and not the exception.
Like you, from time to time it crosses my mind what things would be like today had Bush41 stuck to the Reagan agenda. I betcha lots of conservatives have the same thoughts. I get flashes of 1995-1999 too. ;^)
Posts are much more interesting to read when they have a point. And the use of CAPITAL letters doesn't count.
I think I WILL capitalize every few words SO people think what I'm TYPING actual has some MERIT to it. But instead of posting ORIGINAL thoughts or addressing PROBLEMS, I'll Just CHEERLEAD the team GOP as it drives the BUS off the cliff! Then I'll talk down TO anyone who ACTUALLY dares question what George W. BSUH and the RINOS might be DOING wrong!!!!! Sound like A plan TO you?!?!?!?
Think of, despite the Greenspan induced problem periods of 1989-90, 1994 and 2000, the wealth we could have enjoyed.
But, I guess if that were the case the 1994 revolution may not have happened and the left would still control both houses as well as the courts.
I still would have liked to see Reagan's torch carried forward.
spendasoarus rex ping
hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!
hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!
hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!
hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!
hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, I thought it was pretty funny too, in a sad sort of way. :-)
Ditto.
Soooooo
(papers rustling)
Let's see....Dept of Education?
No
IRS....
No, not there.
AH! Here it is!
Repel invasion.
See.... I THOUGHT that was in our Constitution.
-----------------
Tell you what.....
When the President:
1) does his enumerated Constitutional duty to repel the invasion of our Southern border
and
2) STOPS figuring out new, inventive and Unconstitutional ways to get his hand in my pocket,
THEN I'll consider joining the "Bush-bots on Parade"!
The President used his bully pulpit to pass his Medicare nonsense. He could use it to restrain spending if he wanted to. He just doesn't want to.
I am curious what do you people think you accomplish spending 100% of your time shooting at what you CLAIM is your own side? Gee HERE is an idea for you. HOW ABOUT actually fighting the Democrats say 1/5th of the time instead of spending ALL your time HELPING them with their propaganda?
I've been battling Democratic Party liberalism since 1968! I went door to door for Republican Presidents and candidates from Nixon to Bush43. Free Republic is a conservative website. That's why I've been lurking and posting since 1998! To advance the conservative agenda, not the domestic centrist agenda of Bush43. The GOP is a political vehicle to gain power. The conservative agenda is suppose to be the GOP agenda. The conservative agenda is what Bush43 is suppose to being employing to govern America. That is not the case.
JimRob doesn't alow liberals on FR to spew their nasty political agenda and I don't visit their leftist websites either. I know what liberalism is all about. I have no desire to promote liberalism, rinoism or any form of centrist philosophy. And I have no patience for your juvenile nonsense either.
Once again, evidence why Reagan was such a great man!!!
HEY!
Prostitute YOUR principles all you like!
Deriding others in such an immature way because they choose to stick to THEIRS just makes you look like even a TINIER man than you obviously already are!
You are the worst attempt at an AI program I've ever seen.
No one is on "my side" by virtue of their party status. I am against all big government lackeys, be they Republicrat or Demoblican.
"President Calls For Spending Restraint"
Sorry....wrong number.
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