Today, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) released two U.S. Senate spending analyses covering Michael Bennet and Ken Buck. NTUF took campaign statements, transcripts of debates, and news source citations to generate a line-by-line summary of both Bennet and Buck’s platforms. Their spending agendas included cuts and cost increases but were different by $8.75 billion.
Michael Bennet, currently serving as Colorado’s junior Senator, would increase federal spending by $7.345 billion. Of his 34 proposals affecting federal spending, 13 would raise costs, none would lower them, and 21 were impossible to score at this time.
Ken Buck, currently serving as Weld County’s District Attorney, would decrease federal spending by $1.405 billion. Buck proposed 19 policy items that would affect federal expenditures -- one would increase spending, two would cut outlays, and 16 were impossible to accurately score for either cost or savings. The two savings proposals Buck has put forward include medical liability reform and domestic energy exploration development. The cuts would total $2.905 billion.
The Colorado report is NTUF’s final US Senate race analysis. The Foundation has covered California, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania Senate campaigns – totaling nine candidates across the country’s most contested races.