In 2011, mandatory spending had increased to 56% of federal outlays.

While federal outlay for welfare was reduced by half since 1996, programs such as food stamps have seen increases in spending.

In recent years, discretionary spending as a whole has amounted to about one-third of total federal outlays.

The fact they are least dependent on federal outlays is key.

It shows federal outlays as a percent of GDP from 2000 to 2021.

The result would be to shrink federal outlays by $120 billion through 2021.

Toss in a few smaller entitlement programs and you've covered all but one-sixth of federal outlays.

With a little political grandstanding, the most insignificant federal outlay can be made to look like runaway government.

When the economy strengthens, federal outlays will fall because there will be fewer unemployed.

Medicaid spending has shot up 63 percent in the last five years, so that federal and state outlays together now total more than $300 billion a year.