The big social spending commitments of the late 1960's and early 1970's were made with the assumption that economic growth would not falter.

If so, we should be told how they will meet their spending commitments on child benefit and pensions.

The biggest single spending commitment was an extra £1.9 billion in child benefits.

The debt limit does not authorize new spending commitments.

Eliminating a $100 million program, for instance, would only save perhaps $50 million by July 1, because months of higher spending commitments have already passed.

And, reductions in future spending commitments cannot supply the short-term cash needed.

States, including New York, need to review their spending commitments and programs.

Secondly, all the spending commitments in the recovery plans are far from being of equal merit.

Paragraphs 3 and 5 detail what we feel to be unnecessary extra spending commitments.

Governments cannot print money, and can only tax or borrow to meet their spending commitments.