Bush's Fiscal Deceptions

Nice piece here on Marketplace by tax expert Len Burman on the foolishness of Bush's budget. The gist: rather than have the federal government grant vouchers ("irresponsible growth in discretionary spending") to fund federal programs, Bush instead provides the same service with tax deductions ("tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts"). Either way, the fiscal impact is the same--a drain on the government's coffers, and a bigger budget deficit. But this way Bush gets to say he's cutting taxes out of his undying love for everyday Americans, rather than wantonly increasing discretionary spending like those spendthrift liberals.

Although the fiscal impact is the same either way, from an oversight standpoint the two approaches are very different--the program shifts from being administered by the appropriate agency (in this example, Health & Human Services) and subject to Congressional oversight, to being overseen by the IRS, which has no experience administering health programs.