It's About Time: Now Bush wants to control federal spending. According to The Washington Times, the president will limit the growth of all discretionary spending -- that's not related to defense or national security -- to 1 percent.
I just wonder whether this is enough to rein in deficits, considering the recent expansion of Medicare entitlements and the continued pork-barrel spending. If Bush were serious about controlling the budget, he'd crack down on Congressional earmarks.
But limiting discretionary spending to 1 percent growth is going to be tough enough for him. It will be interesting when Congress continues its "drunken sailor" routine. Then Bush will face a prospect of either backing down or threatening to veto a Republican Congress.
This is going to be one dandy of an election year.
Friday, January 23, 2004