Analysis – Are the Size and Reach of the Federal Government Exploding?

Are the Size and Reach of the Federal Government Exploding? Non-Interest Spending Outside Social Security and Medicare Will Fall Well Below Prior 50-Year Average as Economy Recovers, By Richard Kogan and Robert Greenstein, February 29, 2012

“Total federal spending indeed rose considerably in 2008 and 2009 as a share of GDP and remained high in 2010 and 2011, in part because GDP was unusually low as a result of the severe economic slump. But, as an examination of the latest Congressional Budget Office (CBO) data indicates, the claim that this indicates a very large, permanent expansion of the federal government is very dubious. Total expenditures have already fallen noticeably from their 2009 peak. Most importantly, the government outside Social Security and Medicare is set to shrink significantly below its historical average size as the economy recovers.”

Analysis – Are the Size and Reach of the Federal Government Exploding?

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