Saturday, May 07, 2005
Grand Old (Spending) Party
Did you think that a decisive GOP victory would bring the citizens back in? Since 1995 the pork barrels have been full to the brim by a firmly established GOP House and Senate majority. Cato has a study on Bush's policies and he turns out to be the biggest spending American president in over 30 years. The New Deal was never really abandoned. It just changed its appearance.
Jacob Weisberg has an article in Slate on the issue.
The figures of what it costs to stay in office are not pleasant for an administration who would like to be perceived as having a financially responsible agenda: 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.
Jacob Weisberg has an article in Slate on the issue.
The figures of what it costs to stay in office are not pleasant for an administration who would like to be perceived as having a financially responsible agenda: 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.
