A Return to Fiscal Conservatism?
It only took six years, nine months, 24 days, and a change in Congressional power, but Bush finally vetoed his first appropriations measure yesterday. And he did it to be fiscally responsible:
“Their majority was elected on a pledge of fiscal responsibility, but so far it’s acting like a teenager with a new credit card,” the president said…
[…]
Bush criticized Democrats for approving a bill that exceeded his budget request for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education departments by $10 billion.
Good criticisms, but a little weak coming from Bush:
Since 2001, Bush signed at least 50 spending bills passed by Republicans that exceeded his budget requests, according to House Appropriations Committee records. He did not veto a single one.
Nor did he veto any bills to protest the explosion of earmarks under Republican Congresses. (Bush has vetoed only six bills, the fewest by any president since James A. Garfield, who was shot in 1881 after four months in office and died weeks later.)
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