The Republican road map for balancing the federal budget in seven years is far from the radical plan often described -- in fact, it is quite modest.

• By 2002, federal spending will be $267 billion higher than in 1996.

• Federal spending will represent 19 percent of the economy then, compared to 22 percent today.

• Revenues are scheduled to climb $449 billion over the seven years.

• In 2002, taxes will consume 19 percent of GDP -- as they do today.

• Planned increases in spending will be reduced by $432 billion during the first five years and $520 billion the last two years.

The federal government will still spend an incredible $12 trillion from now through 2002. One reason is that only about 50 of the 300 programs the Republicans wanted to eliminate actually got the ax.

As for tax cuts, the $245 billion slated for the seven years represents only 0.4 percent of the nation's total economic output.

The Republicans' seven-year plan is actually less bold than plans offered up by lawmakers and presidents in the past.