1,889 days and no vetoes: Bush gaining on Jefferson

President Bush Thursday becomes the longest-sitting president since Thomas Jefferson not to exercise his veto, surpassing James Monroe.

Monroe was in office 1,888 days before he vetoed his first bill on May 4, 1822, a measure to impose a toll on the first federal highway. Jefferson never exercised his veto during two terms in 1801-09.

Bush said Tuesday that the veto threat has helped him reduce the rate of domestic spending: "One reason why I haven't vetoed any appropriation bills is because they met the benchmarks we've set."

In related news, President Bush signed legislation pushing the ceiling on the national debt to nearly $9 trillion.

The increase to $9 trillion represents about $30,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States.

Democrats blasted the bill, saying it was needed because of fiscal mismanagement by Bush, who came to office when the government was running record surpluses.

According to the Debt Clock, the National Debt has continued to increase an average of $2.43 billion per day since September 30, 2005.

At present, foreign countries, central banks and other institutions hold more than one-fourth of the debt, but that percentage is growing rapidly.