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On Federal Spending, Republicans Can't Blame the Democrats Anymore
Daily Policy Digest

Federal Spending & The Budget / Federal Spending and Budget Issues

Friday, February 21, 2003
Critics of Big Government are dismayed at how quickly the GOP has assumed the mantle of the Big Spending party -- and they blame President Bush for this dubious distinction.

  • Discretionary federal spending for defense, foreign aid and domestic programs has been on a steady rise since 1998 -- in contrast with tight limits set by Republicans in the first years following their takeover of Congress in 1995.
  • Total discretionary spending on domestic and defense programs for fiscal year 2003, which ends Sept. 30, will be nearly $100 billion above levels set just two years ago.
  • The White House budget proposal for the coming fiscal year promises Medicare $400 billion more -- not less -- over the next 10 years, and the omnibus spending bill for this year makes a $54 billion commitment by raising payments to physicians over the same period.
  • Education spending this year will be at least $53 billion -- 145 percent more than the first year of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's reign.
The new bill also provides an 18 percent increase for the U.S. Agency for International Development -- including $403 million more than last year for child survival and health programs overseas.

In Senate floor debate on the omnibus bill last month, Democrats offered only amendments adding money -- without any offsetting subtractions.

Source: David Rogers, "Republicans Play 'Hey, Big Spender' Now," Wall Street Journal, February 21, 2003.

For text (WSJ subscription required)
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1045778481713252023-search,00.html

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