2 ms·

The US Congress, and the House specifically, are responsible for spending. Looking at who was President at any point in time is misdirection.

MathMonkeyMan 2y ago
I think that the executive proposes the budget, though. Maybe where you end up has a lot to do with where you start.
- pdonis 2y ago
  > I think that the executive proposes the budget The budgeting process is a huge hairball of political Rube Goldberg contraptions, and who "proposes" the budget on paper has very little to do with the actual political maneuvering involved. As far as the point of this discussion is concerned, both Congress and the President are responsible, since both branches are deeply involved in the political maneuvering.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
runako 2y ago
To the best of my recollection, all of the budgets in the timeframe I mention were signed by the sitting president. (I realize this is not necessary for laws to take effect, but in the years I cited I believe the presidents all signed the budgets into law.) If you want to argue that presidents are not responsible for laws bearing their signatures, I stridently disagree.
- jandrewrogers 2y ago
  Presidents can only sign what is put in front of them. They have the option to veto, and sometimes do, but in many cases they may view that as the worst of two bad choices.
  - runako 2y ago
    This position handily relieves the Executive branch of responsibility for any laws they sign during their tenure. As Presidents typically take credit for their legislative wins, we also give them credit for budgets they sign. (And then we name them things like "Reaganomics.")
    - atmavatar 2y ago
      Not to mention most of the big changes to tax law and spending occur when a single party controls both the executive and legislative branches. Amusingly, the two Reagan tax cuts are notable exceptions, passing the house with overwhelming majorities despite Democrat control. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reagan_tax_cuts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reagan_tax_cuts
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
nine_k 2y ago
While the Congress certainly plays a major role, some of the hugest debt sources are wars, and getting into a war is never done without a presidential decision. Especially starting a war, like in Iraq in 2003.
hackeraccount 2y ago
Look at student loan forgiveness. That was gigantic chunk of money that was spent at the President's discretion.

MathMonkeyMan 2y ago

I think that the executive proposes the budget, though. Maybe where you end up has a lot to do with where you start.

pdonis 2y ago
> I think that the executive proposes the budget The budgeting process is a huge hairball of political Rube Goldberg contraptions, and who "proposes" the budget on paper has very little to do with the actual political maneuvering involved. As far as the point of this discussion is concerned, both Congress and the President are responsible, since both branches are deeply involved in the political maneuvering.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

runako 2y ago

To the best of my recollection, all of the budgets in the timeframe I mention were signed by the sitting president. (I realize this is not necessary for laws to take effect, but in the years I cited I believe the presidents all signed the budgets into law.) If you want to argue that presidents are not responsible for laws bearing their signatures, I stridently disagree.

jandrewrogers 2y ago
Presidents can only sign what is put in front of them. They have the option to veto, and sometimes do, but in many cases they may view that as the worst of two bad choices.
- runako 2y ago
  This position handily relieves the Executive branch of responsibility for any laws they sign during their tenure. As Presidents typically take credit for their legislative wins, we also give them credit for budgets they sign. (And then we name them things like "Reaganomics.")
  - atmavatar 2y ago
    Not to mention most of the big changes to tax law and spending occur when a single party controls both the executive and legislative branches. Amusingly, the two Reagan tax cuts are notable exceptions, passing the house with overwhelming majorities despite Democrat control. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reagan_tax_cuts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reagan_tax_cuts
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]

nine_k 2y ago

While the Congress certainly plays a major role, some of the hugest debt sources are wars, and getting into a war is never done without a presidential decision. Especially starting a war, like in Iraq in 2003.

hackeraccount 2y ago

Look at student loan forgiveness. That was gigantic chunk of money that was spent at the President's discretion.