I never said he did, what I said was that since 1945, Republican Presidents have approved more spending than Democrat Presidents. Show me the Republican vetoes of spending since 1945? QUOTE]
Again, very misleading.
November 2007 "Bush rejected a $606 billion bill to fund education, health and labor programs, complaining that it is too expensive and is larded with pork"
Vetoes
Bush
President vetoes $23-billion water bill
Bush vetoes (again) - references 6 other times, too
This is just a quick google search. I'm sure there are endless others (
here's the wiki summary), although, several Presidents have been reticent to use the veto too much while they still have a chance at compromise. If Congress has the numbers, vetoes don't matter much.
Ford (R): 66 vetoes
Carter (D): 31 vetoes
Reagan (R): 78 vetoes
Bush 1 (R): 44 vetoes
Clinton (D): 37 vetoes
Bush 2 (R): 12 vetoes
Obama (D): 2 vetoes
Most of the vetoes have to do with spending. But, Congress has the power to override, and the President will take most of the blame for a government shut-down.
There is no refuting that with a Republican controlled Congress, from 1996 to 2000 the increase in debt decreased to the point of the debt actually
decreasing in 2000. Then, in the years following, when the House and Senate were divided, debt increased. Then, when House and Senate were Republican again, the debt increase began decreasing again. Finally, when Democrats controlled House and Senate recently, the debt increased dramatically.
Also, spending in and of itself isn't actually a tremendous issue. Debt is the issue. The amount of spending only becomes an issue when it can't be supported (
Social Security, for example). It doesn't support itself. So, the treasury will have to support it eventually or it will default.