You've possibly already seen Josh Claybourn's analysis of the Bush II budget numbers. It's been getting a lot of play after the Prez was on TV the other morning claiming that his budget is keeping spending in check. Seems the whole blogosphere is talking about it, but I'd be remiss if I didn't join in.
G.W. is either ignorant or lying. I'll be charitable and say he's 'spinning' the numbers, but the dollars are out in the open for everyone to see. Discretionary spending, the part of the budget that can be more easily controlled, is up 15% in Bush II's first two years, and the rate of increase is even more than during the last Clinton term.
I already knew this as I listened to Mike Rosen's local radio show yesterday. His guest was Gov. Bill Owens, (R, natch) and they were making the case that Bush is being as frugal as possible, that the increase in spending was caused by the War on Terror and the economic downturn, which automatically increased some non-discretionary outlays.
However, the discretionary spending numbers won't let Bush or his supporters off the hook.
Posted by Walter at February 10, 2004 09:46 AM