Even Santorum is unimpressed

How badly has Bush handled his “faith-based” initiative? Even Rick “Man on Dog” Santorum is fed up.

Give Sen. Rick Santorum credit for persistence: The Pennsylvania Republican soldiers on with President Bush’s “compassion” agenda even when Bush himself retreats.

In his speech Tuesday about his efforts to help the poor, Bush made no mention of what was once the cornerstone of his “compassionate conservatism” — an $85 billion tax break to spur charitable giving. This was no oversight: Bush’s new budget drops the whole idea.

But there yesterday morning in the Mansfield Room off the Senate floor was the No. 3 Senate Republican, politely disagreeing with his president. “We’re going to work on the charitable giving package and try to do the best we can,” said Santorum, who aides say would spend about $25 billion on the program Bush has dropped.

Likewise, Santorum disagreed with Bush’s plan for a $2 billion, 35 percent cut in Community Development Block Grants. “I don’t support the dramatic reduction of the program,” the senator said, surrounded by leaders of religious charities assembled in front of a “Fighting Poverty” backdrop.

A little background is in order. When the White House first started pushing Bush’s initiative in 2001, one of the centerpieces of the plan was a charitable deduction for non-itemizers, which was supposed to help drive donations to charities and other non-profit organizations. It was the only piece of the legislation that won praise from congressional Dems and Republicans alike.

Naturally, therefore, Bush dropped the provision, preferring to focus on more tax breaks for millionaires, and fewer breaks for those who give to charities.

Nevertheless, Bush is still out there, talking about his deep concern for those who provide social services to families in need, without explaining that the White House couldn’t care less about an idea that could expand charitable giving and sail through Congress with nary a vote against it.

Which makes Santorum’s remarks all the more interesting.

Santorum wouldn’t come right out and say it, but he was effectively bringing attention to the fact that Bush talks a good game, but has no follow-through when it comes to “compassion.” Santorum could have done this quietly, but he chose to do it quite publicly.

Maybe he’s trying to position himself for his next race, and/or he may actually care about these issues, but Santorum’s message wasn’t subtle. The White House has given up on proposals that would spur charitable giving, but Santorum is going to fight for them anyway.

It’s something of a slap at the president; Bush may not care enough to put these items in the budget, Santorum suggested, but those who really care are going to push this anyway, without or without the president’s help.

Will there be any support from the White House on the charitable tax deduction? “You should ask the administration that,” a Santorum aide said, pointedly.

The reply from Noam Neusner, spokesman for the White House budget office: “I don’t really have much more to add.”