Weekly Editorial Recap
TUESDAY
SPENDING BILLS
The Democratic Congress, its approval rating below the president’s in some polls, has yet to pass any one of a dozen pending appropriations bills.
With the federal government’s new fiscal year set to begin Monday, Congress must either burn the midnight oil this week, pass “continuing resolutions” to keep Washington running at current spending levels or risk a “government shutdown.”
Last Monday, President Bush criticized his congressional foes for their inaction and warned that Democrats may try to wrap all 12 spending bills into one giant “omnibus” measure, which would make it easier to lard up the federal budget and override a potential veto. …
“This would be bad for our country, it would be harmful for our economy, it would be unfair for the taxpayers.” …
During his first term, Mr. Bush did next to nothing to demonstrate any devotion to fiscal restraint. …
If the president is now a convert to the battle over injecting sanity into the Washington budget debate, better late than never. In the meantime, let’s hope his actions match his rhetoric if congressional big spenders decide to force a budget showdown.