Posted on 02/13/2020 8:33:32 AM PST by Kaslin
President Donald Trump's proposed fiscal year 2021 budget has been released. Generally, budget documents are more of a statement about priorities and aspirations than of anything else. This proposal is typical: It's full of unrealistic assumptions, as well as "savings" that will never happen. It is, in short, a testament to fiscal irresponsibility. Unfortunately, when you use more realistic assumptions and take politics into consideration, you are left with a lot of spending.
What this budget tells us is that this Republican president is a big spender. Under it, the federal government would spend $4.8 trillion in fiscal year 2021. That's 21% ($850 billon) more than when Trump took office, confirming that Republican presidents can't be trusted to restore fiscal sanity.
After adjusting 2009 spending levels to remove the Troubled Asset Relief Program and the stimulus bill -- which affected both President Barack Obama's and President George Bush's budgets, as well as excluding interest paid on the debt -- the Cato Institute's Chris Edwards shows that during Trump's first term, he displayed the same proclivity to jack up spending as his Republicans predecessors. The data shows that Trump increased defense spending in real terms by 18%, with an overall spending growth rate of 10%. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush increased defense spending by 28% and 36%, respectively (and overall spending by 9% and 24%). Compared with their Republican counterparts, Democratic presidents Obama and Bill Clinton look frugal.
President Donald Trump's proposed fiscal year 2021 budget has been released. Generally, budget documents are more of a statement about priorities and aspirations than of anything else. This proposal is typical: It's full of unrealistic assumptions, as well as "savings" that will never happen. It is, in short, a testament to fiscal irresponsibility. Unfortunately, when you use more realistic assumptions and take politics into consideration, you are left with a lot of spending.
What this budget tells us is that this Republican president is a big spender. Under it, the federal government would spend $4.8 trillion in fiscal year 2021. That's 21% ($850 billon) more than when Trump took office, confirming that Republican presidents can't be trusted to restore fiscal sanity.
After adjusting 2009 spending levels to remove the Troubled Asset Relief Program and the stimulus bill -- which affected both President Barack Obama's and President George Bush's budgets, as well as excluding interest paid on the debt -- the Cato Institute's Chris Edwards shows that during Trump's first term, he displayed the same proclivity to jack up spending as his Republicans predecessors. The data shows that Trump increased defense spending in real terms by 18%, with an overall spending growth rate of 10%. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush increased defense spending by 28% and 36%, respectively (and overall spending by 9% and 24%). Compared with their Republican counterparts, Democratic presidents Obama and Bill Clinton look frugal.
Another reason why this budget is unlikely to get through Congress is that the administration focuses its biggest reductions on nondefense discretionary spending. The plan is to cut projected spending on domestic programs by roughly $2 trillion. These "cuts" are mostly to the projected growth of spending increases, not reductions in the actual amount of spending. Still, to make the savings politically viable, the burden should be distributed enough to inspire a sense of shared sacrifice. Instead, the budget plans to extend the 2017 tax cuts at a cost of $1.4 trillion and increases military spending, making the cuts harder to stomach for some.
At the end of the day, and after much spilled ink analyzing the budget proposal, we can count on one thing: This actual budget won't see the light of day. Instead, Congress and the administration will continue in the footsteps of those who came before them and increase the debt while pretending to be fiscally responsible.
Yep. That’s true. Spending has NOT DECREASED but GROWN the past 3 years.
But what’s the alternative?
The only way I can think of is this — ALL OF THESE HAVE TO HAPPEN:
1) Make sure Democrats don’t control Congress.
2) Elect budget hawks in Congress and Senate.
3) Make sure budget hawks have Filibuster proof majorities
Otherwise, we’ll be doing the same thing over and over again -— talk and whine until doomsday comes.
We knew Trump wasnt a typical “ conservative” so this reflects that
However, given what he has to work with in Congress...and among the electorate
So we have realistically 2 approaches to this ( remember I said realistic considering Congress and the huge growth of an entitlement class):
Grow our way ( economic system) out of it ( Trumps choice) with reforms on waste, abuse and unfair trade arrangements
Or
Tax our way out of it ( progressive democrat agenda)
Just freeze spending for a year. No cuts, no increases. Inflation is low. 2019 was a good year for the country, no crisis if we repeat in 2020. Taxes are going up, we could grow our way out with even a tiny bit of discipline.
Not winning.
Every penny of the debt was approved by Democrat members of Congress and not a penny of that debt was voted for by President Trump. He can only sign spending measures sent to him by Democrats in Congress.
As a student of the art of war, this I know: You can’t attack on every front. Sometimes you simply have to hold in some places while you make a decisive move in one place
Much as I hate the idea of kicking the budget can down the road, it seems like the only alternative when all resources have to be devoted to foiling the evil machinations of the left.
You got a love all these idiots
It takes absolutely no guts in this world to be a critic of somebody else’s work
It does take guts to get out there and put out your ideas for everyone to snipe at
Everett Dirksen is rolling over in his grave.
If every time there’s a “government shutdown” the Republicans get blamed regardless of whether they’re a minority or majority in the Senate, then the higher levels of spending really have to be blamed on the Democrats.
The only solution is to eliminate the filibuster on spending bills. We’ve eliminated it on judicial nominations. I think spending bills are just as vital, and have to happen with such regularity that letting the minority (even a Republican minority) hijack them should not be allowed.
Dems could then cut defense spending when they’re in charge. Republicans could cut domestic discretionary spending when we’re in charge. At least something would get cut sometimes.
I expect Trump to be re-elected, the Republicans to take back the House and the Senate to increase its Republican majority. Keeping the Republicans in check will be Trump's biggest obstacle.
I’m not happy with the budget. I understand full well that he does not have the House with him (duh!), but he could STILL propose a budget that increases spending, but at a rate 2% or 4% less than the projected growth in revenues. That way, NO ONE can say that he’s cutting spending - and the average person will fully understand that spending more each year is NOT a cut.
This won’t solve the deficit in a single year (nothing could that wouldn’t cause a massive depression), but it would put us on the path toward eliminating it. Do that type of thing for 8-10 years, and you have solved the problem (and have a better economy along the way, as the markets will have a great deal of additional certainty).
I admire and agree with Trump on virtually every issue - but (like Reagan, who is my next favorite President after Washington and Trump) not on this issue. He could at least get the issue addressed, beat Dems over the head with it all year long, and START the process rolling. It might even result in more Dem seats being taken in the House.
Yet the Rats in the House are still complaining that the proposed Budget it isn’t spending enough.
If they ever come up with real Budget, it will look nothing like what Trump proposed.
What a Circus.
Every penny of the debt was approved by Democrat members of Congress and not a penny of that debt was voted for by President Trump. He can only sign spending measures sent to him by Democrats in Congress.
you forgot option 2...
SHUT.... IT.... DOWN!!!!!
and hang the blame on big spenders where it belongs.
So we can never accuse a Democratic President of being a big spender?
Just approved by President Trump.
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