Powell concerned about growing gov’t

Colin Powell is concerned about the massive growth in government spending and the accompanying deficit, the retired General said in an interview set to air this weekend.

“I never would have believed that we would have budgets that are running into the multi-trillions of dollars, and we are amassing a huge, huge national debt that, if we don’t pay for in our lifetime, our kids and grandkids and great grandchildren will have to pay for it,” Powell told CNN’s John King.

Powell acknowledged that government has an important role in solving economic problems, and explicitly rebuked those who call for “limited government.” But he also expressed concern about the number of new programs President Obama is trying to juggle at once.

“I think the president, as he moves forward with his initiatives has to start really taking a very, very hard look at what the cost of all this is,” Powell said. “And, how much additional bureaucracy and will it be effective bureaucracy be needed to make all of this happen?”

The whole interview will air Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union.