Leaving the Tab for Future Generations

The Houston Chronicle's editorial board takes a necessary look at our nation's fiscal position. The outlook is bleak.

This past week the U.S. House of Representatives approved a $2.2 trillion budget for fiscal 2004. The measure preserves the $726 billion in tax cuts the president wants over the next decade. It makes no provision for the cost of the war and the expensive rehabilitation of Iraq.

The level of irresponsibility displayed by the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans with their tax cut advocacy and a refusal until yesterday to admit to the scope and cost of the Iraqi invasion is simply staggering.

Our children and grandchildren are being asked to pick up the tab of our domestic and foreign policies, notwithstanding the president's lofty State of the Union rhetoric:

This country has many challenges. We will not deny, we will not ignore, we will not pass along our problems to other Congresses, to other presidents, and other generations. (Applause.) We will confront them with focus and clarity and courage.

That is exactly the course suggested by the Chronicle's editorial writers.

The president and his supporters in Congress need to be candid concerning their budget decisions and the red ink they will spawn. In a time of war, courage is needed on the home front, as well. While the politicians might tremble at the thought of transparency, they needn't doubt the willingness of American patriots to make the sacrifices demanded for the good of the nation.

We can chalk this up as yet another promise broken.