Originally published November 27 2005
Increased federal spending has divided the GOP
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
President Bush has seen partisan support flag since 2000, as federal spending has grown from $1.8 trillion to $2.5 trillion since his first term.
Since Republicans took control of the government five years ago spending has soared - driven by mounting costs for the Iraq war, homeland security, rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, and a pricey new prescription-drug benefit under Medicare, the biggest expansion of an entitlement program since the 1960s.
At the same time, federal revenues have failed to keep up with the runaway costs, saddling the country with steep deficits and rising debt, alarming fiscal conservatives and Wall Street, and making America dangerously dependent upon loans from abroad, especially from Japan and China.
The result is a government harder pressed to afford things it might want, whether it's more tax cuts or shoring up Social Security or programs for the needy.
Moderate Republicans say proposed spending cuts would punish the poor and middle class - and endanger moderates' political survival.
"I would encourage Congress to push the envelope when it comes to cutting spending," Bush said later in a speech to the Economic Club of Washington.
His slipping job-approval rating has hurt the party and made some Republicans eager to protect popular spending as they face their own close election contests next year.
Outside Congress, activists such as David Keene of the American Conservative Union and Pat Toomey of the Club for Growth insist on at least $50 billion in cuts over five years.
One reason why is that House Republicans lost their disciplinarian when Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, stepped down as majority leader while facing criminal charges in a campaign-finance case.
DeLay at first ridiculed calls for spending cuts, saying none were needed.
With his tough management style, DeLay might have been more effective at lining up House Republicans behind one budget plan.
It's not that conservatives will vote for Democrats, Keene said.
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