It's fair to say that libertarian Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) is no fan of President George W. Bush's proposed 2007 budget. In his weekly column, Texas Straight Talk (February 13), Congressman Paul notes that Bush wants to increase federal spending to a "staggering $2.77 trillion, a sum that is four times larger than the Reagan-era budgets of the early 1980s."
But it gets worse. Congressman Paul writes that:
* "With a 7% rate of growth, federal spending will double in just 14 years. It once took 100 years to double the federal budget."
* "Federal spending has grown twice as fast under Bush than Clinton, averaging 6% and 7% increases compared to the 3% and 4% increases of the 1990s."
* "The biggest increases in federal spending under Bush are not related to the war on terror or homeland security. Education spending, for example, grew a whopping 137% between 2001 and 2005."
* "The administration will ask for at least $120 billion in so-called 'off budget' funds for Iraq and Afghanistan over the next year, perpetuating the deception that war spending somehow doesn't count toward the budget deficit."
Why is the federal budget so enormous? Congressman Paul answers that question: "Neither political party wants to address the fundamental yet unspoken issues inherent in any budget proposal: What is the proper role for government in our society? Are these ever-growing entitlement and military expenditures really consistent with a free country? Do the proposed expenditures, and the resulting taxes, make us more free or less free? These are the kinds of questions the American people should ask, even if Congress lacks the courage to apply any principles whatsoever to the budget process."
But it gets worse. Congressman Paul writes that:
* "With a 7% rate of growth, federal spending will double in just 14 years. It once took 100 years to double the federal budget."
* "Federal spending has grown twice as fast under Bush than Clinton, averaging 6% and 7% increases compared to the 3% and 4% increases of the 1990s."
* "The biggest increases in federal spending under Bush are not related to the war on terror or homeland security. Education spending, for example, grew a whopping 137% between 2001 and 2005."
* "The administration will ask for at least $120 billion in so-called 'off budget' funds for Iraq and Afghanistan over the next year, perpetuating the deception that war spending somehow doesn't count toward the budget deficit."
Why is the federal budget so enormous? Congressman Paul answers that question: "Neither political party wants to address the fundamental yet unspoken issues inherent in any budget proposal: What is the proper role for government in our society? Are these ever-growing entitlement and military expenditures really consistent with a free country? Do the proposed expenditures, and the resulting taxes, make us more free or less free? These are the kinds of questions the American people should ask, even if Congress lacks the courage to apply any principles whatsoever to the budget process."
