President Barack Obama and other liberals attempt to bolster their argument for higher taxes and bigger, more expensive government by noting deficit spending has been reduced from the $1 trillion-plus levels of just a few years ago. Some conservatives, with spending plans of their own, are eager to agree on that point.

It is true enough – but incredibly dishonest when taken in context.

Obama’s budget proposal for the coming year, released earlier this month, calls for about $4 trillion in expenditures. Of that, $474 billion would be in deficit spending. That is about the same level as during the current fiscal year.

How on earth is nearly half a trillion dollars in new national debt viewed as acceptable?

It is virtually impossible for the president and Congress to eliminate deficit spending immediately. Progress during the past couple of years can be credited more to the economy’s slow recovery from recession than to spending discipline. Obama’s plan calls for eliminating even the moderate controls responsible for that.

More, not fewer, limits on spending are needed in Washington.