And the government may have to scale back programs to pay for them. Gore's approach is more modest. He offers tax breaks for college tuition, retirement, energy-efficient technology, and a host of other things. It is a continuation of Bill Clinton's policy of using the tax code to reward good behavior. The difference is stark, and goes to the heart of each candidate's ideology.
Spending establishes a government's priorities.
Taxing defines its reach. Bush says he wants to limit government. His tax cut is his main vehicle for doing so. Gore says he believes in efficient but active government. His proposal mirrors this.