GOP Spent Freely Under Bush

President Bush may talk tough when it comes to federal spending, but he gave Republicans significantly more wiggle room during their tenure in the majority than he has threatened to allow Democrats.

That, at least, is the message Democrats are pushing after House Republicans delivered their president the signatures he needs to sustain a veto on any bill that includes "excessive spending."

This is a predictable double-standard, but the numbers are worth noting; in 2005, the last year Republicans moved each of their spending bills, the GOP-led Congress spent at least $62 billion more than the White House requested, according to Congressional Quarterly.

The overrun that year included more than $45.5 billion on the defense bill, which the White House regularly under-budgets for, but it will be curious to how Republicans on the Hill react - despite signing a letter - if the president does veto any of these spending measures.

The first test would be a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats failed to achieve a veto-proof margin when the bill came through the House, but will Bush really veto spending on border agents given the difficulties he faces in passing a comprehensive immigration overhaul? And will Republicans actually give him that win?