But the economic impact goes well beyond direct spending.

The Government's credit programs are a way to achieve objectives that could otherwise be achieved by direct spending.

Pittsburgh's direct spending on projects that create jobs has been 10 times higher than ours per capita.

According to one economist, only $3.6 billion represented direct spending by the national Government.

In New Jersey, federal tax expenditures were $1,257 per student, but direct spending was only $237.

In Alabama, tax expenditures were $165, while direct spending was $371.

Tax subsidies worked better when combined with direct spending on job creation in areas of high unemployment.

For every dollar of direct spending, the study found, an additional $1.39 was generated throughout the economy.

About two-thirds is in direct spending - tickets, parking, hot dogs and so on.

The alternative, educators generally agree, is to invest more in lower grades and direct social spending to children.

The measure would give the governor and the Legislature virtually no power to direct or oversee spending.

Mr. DiNapoli does not deny that he would like an agreement in Albany to give the Democrats more power over the county budget, from negotiating contracts with unions to directing spending on health care.

He also promised to direct Federal spending away from wasteful programs and toward future-looking investments in training people.

The district's representative, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a Democrat, serves on the Banking and Small Business committees, neither of which directs vast federal spending.

Although some criticize "earmarks," or congressionally-directed funding, the Constitution provides Congress with authority to direct federal spending.

So we turn to direct Federal spending.

Congress can also mandate spending on specific items: legislatively directed spending, commonly known as "earmarks," specifies funds for a particular project, rather than for a government agency.

Congressman Kingston is a member of the House Appropriations Committee which directs federal spending.

The power to direct spending, of course, comes with a duty to ensure that your money is spent wisely, prudently, and on projects that are in the taxpayers interest.

It directs relatively more new spending to middle and elementary schools and less to high schools.