Spending overdose

The Washington Times ^ | 10-6-05 | Veronique de Rugy/Nick Gillespie

[JZelle]

"I call on members to make real cuts in nonsecurity spending," President Bush told his Tuesday press conference. "Congress needs to pay for as much of the hurricane relief as possible by cutting spending." Such sentiments are sweet music to libertarians and small-government conservatives -- and long overdue. While emergency spending in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has added billions to the deficit-riddled federal budget, those outlays are just a drop in the bucket compared to the prestorm spending habits of the president and Congress. Indeed, when it comes to big-time spending, many think of Democrat Lyndon Baines Johnson -- who busted the budget like a Texas tornado. But it's the current chief executive from the Lone Star State, with plenty of help from the Republican-controlled Congress, who actually set the one-term record for raising discretionary spending. Discretionary spending comprises most defense spending and other nonentitlement social programs; it's what president and Congress decide to spend each year through appropriations bills. Because it could be theoretically zeroed out each year, discretionary spending is the best measure of fiscal responsibility in evaluating presidents and Congresses. In fiscal 1965-68, Lyndon Johnson raised discretionary spending a whopping 33.4 percent (all figures are adjusted for inflation and based on Office of Management and Budget data). He jacked up nondefense discretionary spending 34.2 percent and defense spending -- remember Vietnam? -- 33.1 percent.

[Pessimist]

Never mind that he's never vetoed a single spending bill, and never mind that the cuts he wants now are to pay for his Katrina binge.

[Moonman62]

I don't think he's vetoed any bill.

[mysterio]

Nah, don't need to veto! We can print more money!