Big spending

November 26, 2008

The national debt stands at $10.6 trillion, compared with about $5.7 trillion in 2000 before President Bush took office. It is going to climb as President-elect Barack Obama takes office.

Iraq war: The total cost since 2003 is about $600 billion.

Financial bailout: Bill signed on Oct. 3 provides $700 billion in relief to financial system.

Economic stimulus: $168 billion earlier this year for tax rebates for households and tax breaks for businesses. Obama and congressional Democrats are working on another package that could total between $500 billion and $700 billion over two years.

Automakers: Congress allocated $25 billion to GM, Ford, and Chrysler and their suppliers to retool their assembly lines for making more fuel-efficient cars. The Big Three automakers want $25 billion more in loans.

Housing crisis: Bill signed in July includes $300 billion for the government to guarantee cheaper mortgages for troubled homeowners. In September, the Treasury took over mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, pledging as much as $200 billion to back their assets.

Jobless aid: Last week, Congress approved a three-month extension of expiring unemployment benefits, at a cost of nearly $6 billion.

ASSOCIATED PRESS