ELECTION 2000
GOP senators slam
Gore's spending plan
Claim VP's proposals would
devour federal budget surplus
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By Timothy P. Carney
© 2000, Human Events
Calling Al Gore's spending plans "expansive, expensive and risky," Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., told reporters that the Democratic presidential candidate would add $2.6 to $3.4 trillion in new discretionary spending over the next decade, thus possibly exceeding the projected $3.3-trillion on-budget surplus.
"The vice president's numerous spending proposals would devour, as we figure it, every dime of the federal budget surplus," Domenici said.
Held two weeks ago, the press conference, which Domenici denied was intended to aid the election prospects of George W. Bush, accompanied the release of a 51-page Senate Budget Committee report on Gore's proposals.
Amid their assaults on Gore's "unprecedented burst of new spending," Republican leaders admitted that they also intend to increase the size of the federal government and hike spending, but by lower amounts, if the party has control of the White House and both houses next year.
"We can't expect real cuts, if that's what you're looking for," Domenici told Human Events.
Domenici, Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, and Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., defended the current budget-cap-busting in Congress as well as George W. Bush's proposed education spending hikes.
"We're not going to fight over an anthill," said Gramm, referring to the amount of this year's overspending compared with Gore's budget, "when we've got a mountain about to avalanche on our heads." (cont)
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