This afternoon, NTU Foundation released spending studies covering two California Senatorial race front-runners: Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina. Researchers collected from campaign statements, transcripts of debates, and news sources to generate line-by-line candidate financial summaries. The candidates’ two spending agendas differ by as much as $171 billion in possible cost increases or spending cuts.
Barbara Boxer, currently serving as California’s junior Senator, would increase federal spending by $15.847 billion if reelected. Of the 31 proposals cited as having possible expenditure effects, Boxer has proposed in campaign speeches and on her website, ten would increase costs, one would decrease spending, and 20 could not be scored. The single category Boxer offered as a potential savings was repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” policy, which would result in a $36 million spending cut. However, a recent court ruling on this measure may preclude this issue before the 112th Congress convenes.
Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, would decrease federal spending by $154.796 billion. Fiorina proposed 22 policy and initiative changes, which NTUF found would affect federal spending. Five items would raise costs to taxpayers, five would lower costs, and 12 could not be quantifiably scored for costs or savings. Savings proposals include freezing non-entitlement spending, reducing the deficit with unspent “stimulus” funds, and freezing pay and workforce size of the federal government.
NTUF has already released election research studies covering the Pennsylvania and Florida Senatorial races. The Foundation plans to publish additional reports on other contentious Senate races from around the country in the coming weeks.