Who’s Responsible For the U.S. Budget?
It’s incredible that Alice M. Rivlin, a supposedly learned member of the Brookings Institution, doesn’t seem to know that U.S. Presidents can’t spend a penny, or raise or lower taxes, unless it has been approved by Congress, “Why Bush’s Congress Bashing on Federal Spending Just Doesn’t Add Up” (Sept. 27).
Democrats have controlled Congress for most of the last 40 years. And the “mandated” spending she speaks of as virtually untouchable could be “un-mandated” by Congress if they had the courage and integrity to do what’s best for the country instead of doing what it takes to get reelected.
HOWARD C. LOCKWOOD
Los Angeles
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