Fiscal Conservatism

From Yahoo News: "Republicans whisked a $388 billion spending bill through the House on Saturday, a mammoth measure that underscores the dominance of deficit politics by curbing dollars for everything from education to environmental cleanups.(...)

"Also enacted during the postelection session was an $800 billion increase in the government's borrowing limit. The measure was yet another testament to record annual deficits, which reached $413 billion last year and are expected to climb indefinitely.(...)

"A potential boon for Bush himself, $2 million for the government to try buying back the presidential yacht Sequoia. The boat was sold three decades ago, though its current owners say the yacht is not for sale."

Meanwhile, according to UPI , spending on the war in Iraq has risen to $5.8 billion a month, nearly a 50 percent increase above the $4 billion-a-month benchmark the Pentagon has used so far.