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Mitt Romney's Spending Proposals Compared to 2008 Presidential Candidates


Jeff Dircksen
May 14, 2012

And then there was one. 

With Ron Paul's decision to not contest any upcoming primaries, the way is now clear for Mitt Romney to become the Republican presidential nominee.  Last month, NTUF released its analysis of the spending proposals offered by the 2012 GOP presidential primary candidates.  Now with Romney the only active GOP candidate in the race, it provides an opportunity look at how Romney's spending platform compares with the leading candidates from the 2008 race at approximately the same point in time.

Comparison of Presidential Spending Platforms

Mitt Romney in 2012 versus Candidates in 2008

Type of Proposal

Mitt Romney

John McCain*

Hillary Clinton*

Barack Obama*

Spending Increase

3

14

108

66

Spending Cut

11

3

1

1

Unknown Cost

28

31

73

86

TOTAL

42

48

182

153

* Data for 2008 candidates is from NTUF’s June 3, 2008 release.

Source:  National Taxpayers Union Foundation

Comparison of Presidential Spending Platforms

Mitt Romney in 2012 versus Candidates in 2008

 (Dollar Amounts are in Billions)

Spending Category

Mitt Romney

John McCain*

Hillary Clinton*

Barack Obama*

Economy, Transportation & Infrastructure

-$4.3

$3.502

$74.493

$111.603

Education, Science & Research

N/A

$1.8

$18.996

$37.088

Energy, Agriculture & Environment

Unknown

$56.481

$64.451

$56.489

Federal Government Reform†

-$383.409

N/A

N/A

N/A

Health Care

-$136.098

$1.137

$114.611

$100.848

Homeland Security & Law Enforcement

Unknown

$1.5

$4.557

$10.173

National Security & International Relations

$170.802

$3.917

$1.294

$13.808

Veterans

N/A

$0.60

$8.143

$2.76

Miscellaneous

N/A

N/A

$3.097

$10.817

TOTAL

-$353.005

$68.517

$289.642

$343.586

Note:  Totals may not add due to rounding.

* Data for 2008 candidates is from NTUF’s June 3, 2008 release.

† The Federal Government Reform category was not used in 2008.

Source:  National Taxpayers Union Foundation

 


 

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