On Tuesday, President Obama’s State of the Union (SOTU) address stressed the importance of fiscal responsibility and reining in the growth of government; but a new analysis from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) suggests that those themes may have been little more than window dressing.

According to a line-by-line analysis of the 15 policy proposals laid out last night by the President, NTUF determined that five would lead to spending increases, three would result in spending decreases, and seven could not be quantified. The net effect of these policies, if they were enacted, would be to drive up federal government spending by more than $20 billion.

Included in the list of new spending items, according to NTUF:

  • $50 billion for transportation infrastructure;
  • $2 billion for state and local government assistance in recruiting and training more teachers;
  • $1.35 billion to fund Race to the Top;
  • $600 million to create “a new drug-development agency;” and
  • $59 million for the “Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act.”

    As bad as these new spending proposals are, they are made all the worse in light of today’s news that the federal government’s FY 2011 deficit is expected to reach a record $1.5 trillion this year. Spend, spend, spend seems to be the order of the day in D.C. despite what was said last night.

    -James Quintero