Recently in Federal Spending Category

Once upon a time, politicians cared about reducing the budget deficit. They passed laws that attempted automatic spending cuts. They met in private at an Air Force base and hammered out a deal that led President George H.W. Bush to renege on his promise of "no new taxes." Several years later, President Bill Clinton raised taxes again, and Congress was somewhat restrained with spending. The deficit picture brightened and then glowed. The budget started running surpluses "as far as the eye could see."

That was then.