Debate Prep - Federal Government Spending under Obama and Bush II

The purpose of this essay is to provide you with the facts you may need for accurate evaluation of campaign rhetoric and to formulate your own questions for the candidates.  Here are the known federal government spending amounts for Obama and Bush II administrations along with the percent of GDP those levels represent:

112^th congress:

            2012 –            $ 3.5 trillion               24.3 %

            2011 –            $ 3.5 trillion               24.1 %

111^th congress:

            2010 –            $ 3.6 trillion               24.1 %

            2009 –            $ 3.8 trillion               25.2 %

110^th congress:

            2008 –            $ 3.0 trillion               20.8 %

            2007 –            $ 2.7 trillion               19.7 %

109^th congress:

            2006 –            $ 2.7 trillion               20.1 %

            2005 –            $ 2.5 trillion               19.9 %

108^th congress:

            2004 –            $ 2.3 trillion               19.6 %

            2003 –            $ 2.2 trillion               19.7 %

107^th congress:

            2002 –            $ 2.0 trillion               19.1 %

            2001 –            $ 1.9 trillion               18.2 %

Our source for all the numbers and percentages in this essay is:  www.whitehouse.gov   In other words, these are Mr. Obama’s numbers.

Here is a recap by presidential term:  Obama four year spending, 2009 – 2012, totaled $ 14.4 trillion, an average of 24.4 % of GDP.  In the first Bush II term, 2001 –  2004, spending totaled $ 8.3 trillion, averaging 19.2 % of GDP; second term, 2005 – 2008, spending totaled $ 10.8 trillion, averaging 20.1 % of GDP.  Those are the facts – Obama facts.  Average spending per year for Bush II first term - $ 2.1 trillion; Bush II second term - $ 2.7 trillion and Obama first term - $ 3.6 trillion.  % of GDP for Bush II, two terms is 19.7 %; Obama one term – 24.4 %.

Some analysis:  The 111^th congress was completely controlled by democrats.  The 112^th congress was split – senate under republicans; house under democrats.  There is no federal government agency spending without congressional approval.  There are several self funding agencies but they still require congressional authorization.  The federal reserve however is a different story and it does not need separate authorization when it comes to spending.  But, today, our focus is congressional and presidential authorized spending.

We can conclude that democrat control of congress and the white house, even with republican control in the house for two years, is not a foundation on which spending limits and controls can be expected.  Any situation going forward from today that mirrors the current control of congress and the white house will produce equal or increased spending levels from the 2012 amounts noted above.  Looking ahead – Romney is making a specific campaign pledge to bring spending back to 20% of GDP level over his four year term.  Mr. Obama projects spending on his website from 2013 – 2016 to increase to just over $ 4.0 trillion per year which is 22.7% of GDP for the period.