Bush is a big government spender

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-01-05-bush-spending_x.htm

Conservatives simmer as spending mushrooms under Bush

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservatives wait warily as President Bush makes final decisions about his election-year budget, three years into an administration on whose watch spending has mushroomed by 23.7%, the fastest pace in a decade.

While Bush has emphasized repeatedly the need to rein in spending, overall federal expenditures have grown to an estimated $2.31 trillion for the budget year that started Oct. 1. That is up from $1.86 trillion in President Clinton's final year, a rate of growth not seen for any three-year period since 1989 to 1991.

(snip)

What has vexed conservatives most is the 31.5% growth since Bush took office in discretionary spending. That is the one-third of the budget lawmakers approve annually for defense, domestic security, school aid and everything else except Social Security and other benefits.

Such spending grew by an annual average of 3.4% during Clinton's eight years.

(snip)

"Re-election has become the focus of Republicans in the White House and Congress. And those in power have determined the road to staying in power is paved with government spending," said Brian Riedl, who monitors the budget for the conservative Heritage Foundation.


I'll remember all of this the next time any freeper calls the Democrats "tax-n-spenders".

[Nay]

1. It still amazes me how so many so-called Republicans voted for *

and expected him to be this holier-than-thou conservative. What story will they tell themselves so they can vote for him again in November??

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2. A kick

:kick: