[alwaysconservative]

I wanted to give an accurate definition, so C-Span's Congressional Glossary says that discretionary spending is:

DISCRETIONARY SPENDING refers to spending set by annual appropriation levels made by decision of Congress. This spending is optional, and in contrast to entitlement programs for which funding is mandatory.

President Bush's budget, submitted to Congress for its approval, has reduced this optional spending level significantly. It does not include military or defense spending.

[inquest]

Interesting data, then. Certainly adds something new to the debate.