Which Political Party Increased Government Spending At a Faster Rate?
Over the past 50 years, which political party in the United States (Democrats or Republicans) has increased total government expenditures at a faster rate? To answer this question, I decided to take the historical spending data from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and run some numbers.
The main question that I wanted an answer to: which political party tends to increase total government spending at a faster clip - Republicans or Democrats? I also wanted to know, based on 2009 and the projected 2010-2012 figures, exactly how President Obama’s spending increases compare to previous administrations (since this is such a hot topic right now).
I included the OMB’s spending projections for 2010-2012 in our figures, so we will be using a total of 53 years’ (1960 to 2012) worth of data. These are not my projections - they are the projections provided by the White House.
So, as mentioned, we are using government spending data from 1960 until 2012 (which will be the end of President’s Obama first term in the White House.. or his first and only term if he doesn’t get re-elected).
Of the 53 years, a Democrat was in the White House for 24 of them, while a Republican was in the White House for the other 29 years.
Of the 24 years that a Democrat occupied the White House, the annual YoY (Year over Year) increase in total government expenditures was 7.08%.
Of the 29 years that a Republican occupied the White House, the annual YoY (Year over Year) increase in total government expenditures was 7.58%.
Now, after adjusting for inflation, we are left with:
Democrats - +3.79% YoY
Republicans - +2.95% YoY
Now, for fun, let’s compare George W. Bush’s first term spending numbers vs the projected numbers for Barack Obama:
George W. Bush
2001-2004 Spending - +6.41% YoY
2001-2004 Spending (Inflation Adjusted) - +3.84% YoY
Barack Obama
2009-2012 Spending - +6.17% YoY
(no inflation numbers for 2010 to 2012, obviously)
A few notes about President Obama’s numbers:
-2009 saw a massive 17.94% jump in government outlays.. the largest % jump when George W. Bush was president came in 2008 (+9.30%)
-the 2010-2012 spending projections from the White House actually have the US DECREASING their spending in 2012 (-2.06%). We’ll see if this actually happens or not.
For fun, let’s look at George W. Bush’s second term spending numbers:
2005-2008 Spending - +6.82% YoY
2005-2008 Spending (Inflation Adjusted) - +3.4% YoY
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From 1946 to 2009, The United States has posted an average budget deficit (inflation adjusted) of $160.99 billion.
During the 36 years, from 1946-2009, that the country had a Republican president in the White House, the United States posted an average deficit of $202.28 billion (inflation adjusted).
During the 28 years, from 1946-2009, that the country had a Democrat president in the White House, the United States posted an average deficit of $107.9 billion (inflation adjusted).
Note: The $107.9 billion figure will grow substantially over the next three years, as we are currently facing a string of MASSIVE deficits as far as the eye can see.
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Here is the raw data:
Year: 1960
Total Government Spending: $92,191,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $674,838,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 0.10%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): -1.65%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1961
Total Government Spending: $97,723,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $708,492,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 6.00%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 4.99%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1962
Total Government Spending: $106,821,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $766,975,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 9.31%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 8.25%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1963
Total Government Spending: $111,316,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $788,117,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 4.21%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 2.76%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1964
Total Government Spending: $118,528,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $828,511,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 6.48%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 5.13%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1965
Total Government Spending: $118,228,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $813,409,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: -0.25%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): -1.82%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1966
Total Government Spending: $134,532,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $900,019,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 13.79%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 10.65%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1967
Total Government Spending: $157,464,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,021,941,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 17.05%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 13.55%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1968
Total Government Spending: $178,134,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,109,775,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 13.13%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 8.59%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1969
Total Government Spending: $183,640,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,085,312,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 3.09%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): -2.20%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1970
Total Government Spending: $195,649,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,093,678,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 6.54%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 0.77%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1971
Total Government Spending: $210,172,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,124,420,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 7.42%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 2.81%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1972
Total Government Spending: $230,681,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,197,234,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 9.76%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 6.48%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1973
Total Government Spending: $245,707,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,199,050,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 6.51%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 0.15%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1974
Total Government Spending: $269,359,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,185,180,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 9.63%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): -1.16%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1975
Total Government Spending: $332,332,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,339,298,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 23.38%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 13.00%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1976
Total Government Spending: $371,792,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,416,528,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 11.87%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 5.77%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1977
Total Government Spending: $409,218,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,465,000,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 10.07%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 3.42%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1978
Total Government Spending: $458,746,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,523,037,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 12.10%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 3.96%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1979
Total Government Spending: $504,028,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,507,044,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 9.87%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): -1.05%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1980
Total Government Spending: $590,941,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,554,175,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 17.24%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 3.13%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1981
Total Government Spending: $678,241,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,614,214,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 14.77%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 3.86%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1982
Total Government Spending: $745,743,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,677,922,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 9.95%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 3.95%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1983
Total Government Spending: $808,364,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,762,234,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 8.40%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 5.02%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1984
Total Government Spending: $851,805,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,780,272,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 5.37%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 1.02%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1985
Total Government Spending: $946,344,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,902,151,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 11.10%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 6.85%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1986
Total Government Spending: $990,382,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,960,956,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 4.65%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 3.09%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1987
Total Government Spending: $1,004,017,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,917,672,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 1.38%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): -2.21%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1988
Total Government Spending: $1,064,416,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $1,947,881,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 6.02%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 1.58%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1989
Total Government Spending: $1,143,744,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,001,552,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 7.45%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 2.76%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1990
Total Government Spending: $1,253,007,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,079,992,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 9.55%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 3.92%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1991
Total Government Spending: $1,324,234,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,105,532,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 5.68%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 1.23%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1992
Total Government Spending: $1,381,543,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,127,576,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 4.33%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 1.05%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 1993
Total Government Spending: $1,409,392,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,114,088,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 2.02%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): -0.63%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1994
Total Government Spending: $1,461,766,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,134,178,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 3.72%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 0.95%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1995
Total Government Spending: $1,515,753,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,152,369,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 3.69%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 0.85%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1996
Total Government Spending: $1,560,486,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,153,471,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 2.95%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 0.05%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1997
Total Government Spending: $1,601,124,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,161,517,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 2.60%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 0.37%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1998
Total Government Spending: $1,652,463,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,197,776,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 3.21%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 1.68%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 1999
Total Government Spending: $1,701,849,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,212,404,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 2.99%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 0.67%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 2000
Total Government Spending: $1,788,957,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,254,086,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 5.12%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 1.88%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 2001
Total Government Spending: $1,862,906,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,272,745,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 4.13%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 0.83%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 2002
Total Government Spending: $2,010,907,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,413,088,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 7.94%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 6.18%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 2003
Total Government Spending: $2,159,906,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,548,689,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 7.41%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 5.62%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 2004
Total Government Spending: $2,292,853,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,636,781,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 6.16%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 3.46%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 2005
Total Government Spending: $2,471,971,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,743,888,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 7.81%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 4.06%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 2006
Total Government Spending: $2,655,057,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,867,462,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 7.41%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 4.50%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 2007
Total Government Spending: $2,728,702,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $2,865,137,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 2.77%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): -0.08%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 2008
Total Government Spending: $2,982,554,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $3,012,380,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 9.30%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 5.14%
Democrat or Republican President: REPUBLICAN
Year: 2009
Total Government Spending: $3,517,681,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $3,552,858,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 17.94%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 17.94%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 2010
Total Government Spending: $3,720,701,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $3,720,701,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 5.77%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 4.72%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 2011
Total Government Spending: $3,833,861,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $3,833,861,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: 3.04%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): 3.04%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
Year: 2012
Total Government Spending: $3,754,852,000,000
Total Government Spending (Inflation Adjusted): $3,754,852,000,000
YoY Spending Increase: -2.06%
YoY Spending Increase (Inflation Adjusted): -2.06%
Democrat or Republican President: DEMOCRAT
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Source: Davemanuel.com - Democrat vs Republican Average Budget Deficits From 1946 to 2009
Source: Office of Management and Budget
Filed under: General Knowledge
