• Using another gimmick, Democrats included a $2 billion increase in “advance appropriations.” This is money that will be spent this fiscal year, but not written on the books until the following year -- at which time it’s not counted as spending either. 

These actions alone bring the total to $23 billion more than Bush requested -- and that’s before anyone has even seen the actual omnibus itself. How did the extra money get through without the Capitol Hill press corps even noticing?

It’s partly the fault of partisan Republicans, who relish the opportunity to kick Democrats while they’re down. It doesn’t help that several of the GOP’s Senate leaders, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, are veteran appropriators who might swallow more spending if it means another week’s worth of bad headlines for Democrats. House Republicans appear more likely to hold firm, launching a “Butcher Shop” to expose the pork projects in the spending bill.

The bigger and more important question is where Bush will come down in the spending fight. The White House has played coy so far, expressing optimism that a budget breakthrough is near but also warning Democrats not to attach gimmicks and sweeping policy changes to the omnibus. If they do -- and it’s not unlikely -- Bush said he’d rather have another continuing resolution that keeps spending levels the same as this year.

After years of disappointing conservatives by agreeing to huge increases in government spending, Bush has taken a new tack this year by vetoing legislation and playing hardball with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. His tough talk is beginning to pay off -- for Bush’s personal approval rating and for American taxpayers fed up with Washington’s big spenders. Now would not be the time to go soft on spending.