For some inexplicable reason, GWB has refused to wield the executive's most powerful tool in determining the budgets: The Presidential Veto. For decades that's how presidents have pushed Congress to enact their spending plans, and for whatever reason GWB refuses to do so.
Heck, it's gotten to where a lot of people seem to forget the veto even exists. Reagan used the veto 78 times, mostly in order to restrain spending.
My guess would be because the Republicans have been in charge of Congress. Few presidents are going to use the veto pen a lot against their own party. Also, Bush has needed congressinal help with the war on terror, in which he used a lot of his capital.
Heck, it's gotten to where a lot of people seem to forget the veto even exists. Reagan used the veto 78 times, mostly in order to restrain spending.
Well, Reagan used the veto pen many times for social issues such as when he vetoed the civil rights bill, which was promptly overridden. His major spending vetoes were all (As I recall) overridden. Some smaller ones were not, but not sure that the issues weren't transfered to one of the 13 appropriations bills.