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Bush's dirty little budget secret: $10 in new spending for every dollar in tax cuts
Bush has already expanded domestic programs more than twice as much as Clinton did: 18 percent vs. 8.2 percent. It seems there really is a difference between Democrats and Republicans: Democrats brag about their big-government instincts, while Republicans lie about theirs.

In plain English, something that is "cut" is supposed to get smaller. But in Republicanese, "tax cut" really means "spending increase." While some Americans will indeed get a small tax reduction now, they're going to pay for Bush's big-government agenda tomorrow, either through future tax hikes, more government borrowing, or both . . . Bush presented Congress with a $2.23 trillion budget for fiscal 2004 that boosts federal spending by 4.2 percent overall while setting a record deficit and providing targeted tax cuts. Bush's tiny tax cuts will be dwarfed by a massive increase in government spending over the next several years.

According to a budget analysis by the Cato Institute, Bush plans to increase federal outlays by $89 billion in 2004, $114 billion in 2005, and more than $100 billion in succeeding years. Bush budget contains $10 in new spending for every dollar in tax cuts.

The bottom line is that federal spending would be $571 billion per year higher in 2008 than in 2003. By that point, Bush's tax cuts would be reducing federal revenue by just $50 billion annually � meaning long-term spending increases outnumber tax cuts 10 to 1 . . . Clinton's 2000 budget called for spending $335 billion in fiscal 2004 on non-defense discretionary programs (excluding "entitlement" programs such as Medicare and Social Security). But Bush is now calling for nearly $100 billion more than that: $429 billion. In fact, Bush's spending plans are so extravagant that he makes former President Bill Clinton look frugal by comparison . . . Showing gratitude for Bush's tax cuts is like thanking a pickpocket for returning $10 of the $100 he just stole. This budget proves that Bush and his Republican colleagues are nothing more than political pickpockets � and that the American people are their unwitting victims.

Bush Budget Will Make Him the Biggest Spender in Decades
Bush proposes nearly $100 billion more in non-defense discretionary spending than Clinton . . . President Bush is the biggest spending president in decades. For FY2004, discretionary outlays will rise 3.5 percent, which follows increases of 7.8 percent in FY2003 and 13.1 percent in FY2002. Non-defense discretionary outlays will rise 3.2 percent in FY2004 following increases of 7.9 percent in FY2003 and 12.3 percent in FY2002.

- With Bush's budget plan for FY2004, real non-defense discretionary outlays will rise 18.0 percent in his first three years in office (FY2002-FY2004).

- Bush's spending increases dwarf proposed tax cuts.

- Only 2 of 21 major departments and agencies are cut.

- Almost $400 billion for state and local governments. State officials are demanding a federal government bailout to make up for their poor fiscal management.

posted by Hal 9:55 AM