by Matthew Continetti

The Weekly Standard
'
02/11/05

[T]he truth is that a budget is nothing more than a set of assumptions. The 2006 budget proposal assumes Congress will make the Bush tax cuts permanent, actually -- something that hasn't happened, and isn't guaranteed. The budget proposal assumes Congress will agree to its small, 1-percent cut in discretionary spending over five years -- something that hasn't happened, and isn't guaranteed. And the budget proposal assumes Congress will, at the White House's request, eliminate or consolidate 150 federal programs -- something that hasn't happened, and isn't guaranteed. You've heard, I assume, about the 150 programs the Bush administration wants to eliminate. But do you know which 150? If so, please send me an email. No one I know has a clue -- not even Joshua Bolten, who oversees the people who oversee the 'budget process...

http://tinyurl.com/45v6v


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp