Mo' Money

It’s not just cranky green-eyeshade libertarians like myself who are upset with Bush’s spendthrift ways. So are some of his fellow Republicans in Congress:

In briefing papers prepared for this weekend’s party retreat — expected to be dominated by budget debates — the Republican “appropriators” who actually divvy up federal funds each year noted even a complete freeze in the spending targeted by Bush would cut the deficit by only a “minimal” $3 billion.

“We need to be realistic about the impact of this proposal,” the House Appropriations Committee said. “Solely targeting non-defense discretionary spending will not have a significant impact on the deficit.”

Of course, those same Republicans have been happily dishing out pork and increasing entitlements, too.