When the Republicans gained control of Congress in 1994, federal outlays were $1.4 trillion annually.

They have since grown to $2 trillion annually. This is not something that is out of control. This is something that has been determined upon by the Republicans and Democrats in Congress.

The reason federal spending grows is that programs are not cut and indeed more money is provided for them year after year.

The Republicans have outspent the Democrats in many areas. This includes some aspects of unconstitutional federal education spending. Despite promises to close down the Legal Services Program, they continue to fund it and it is now getting more than $300 million per year. They continue funding for the Aids Education Program, money for Planned Parenthood, money for the United Nations and the 17.9 billion dollar bailout of the International Monetary Fund. The record is really there for all to see.

In 1961 federal spending was just under $100 billion per year. Lyndon Johnson doubled it to just under $200 billion per year. By the time Jimmy Carter turned it over to Ronald Reagan, it was just under $600 billion per year. When Reagan turned it over to Bush, he had doubled it to $1.2 trillion a year. Now we are up to $2 trillion per year.

Every extra dollar spent by the federal government is one less dollar of liberty. It's become politicians and bureaucrats and judges shaping our society, instead of the people who earned the money in the first place.

The Constitution Party will cut the federal government down to constitutional size. Our standard for federal expenditures is very simple. If it is not within the delegated and enumerated functions assigned to the federal government, you can't spend the money. In addition, even if something is authorized under the Constitution, we must work hard to determine how money can be spent most consciously, most prudently and most effectively.

With respect to pardon President Clinton, the President has said he would refuse a pardon, but I am not going to give him the opportunity to refuse it. He would not receive one from me in a Phillips presidency.

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