The Heritage Foundation will officially unveil its federal spending book of charts tomorrow. One of the privileges of working here means that I get to see it before anyone else — and bring it to you first.

There are three charts in particular that deserve attention:

‚Ä¢ Anyone who follows the debate over congressional earmarks probably heard that the Pig Book shrunk in size this year. That’s because earmarks are down significantly thanks to a moratorium in Congress. Will it last? That’s a question only the Democrats can answer. Republicans certainly couldn’t hold back — particularly during the Bush presidency.

‚Ä¢ It’s no secret the tax burden on individuals will spike sharply in just a few years — even if Bush‚Äôs tax cuts are extended. But did you know the United States is on course to exceed the highest tax burden in history in just about 10 years?

‚Ä¢ The chart that surprised me most highlights defense spending as percentage of GDP — an issue I recently noted in the context of former Sen. Jim Talent’s National Review cover story. Despite the cost of the Iraq War, our defense spending today is below the 45-year historical average and falls significantly short of Cold War and Vietnam War levels.

There are many more charts available detailing how federal spending affects ordinary Americans. What I most love about this information is that it’s great to use in a debate with liberals — who too often rely on emotion rather than facts to make their faulty arguments.