Democrats cut budget, Republicans increase deficit

Two stories today tell the unfolding narrative of the 112th Congress and the Obama administration. Despite Republican promises to cut government spending, and deal with the deficit in a serious way, it is the Obama administration who is putting savings for American taxpayers on the table. Meanwhile, the first substantive act of the Republican-led house will be to add to the deficit and increase the national debt.

Much of the increase in the federal budget over the last decade has been in defense and security spending, though the exact budgetary demands of these semi-secret agencies are classified. Taking on the secret security apparatus will be an interesting challenge, but I doubt that President Obama wants to engage in that fight. After all, Republicans love nothing more than bashing Democrats for cutting wasteful weapons systems that will never be used.