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Percentage Point Changes in US Federal Outlays Relative to GDP by Congressional StatusPeriod Congressional status Change in total outlays Change in nondefense outlays Change in defense outlays 1981–1988 divided −0.4 −1.3 0.9 1975–1976 divided 2.7 3.0 −0.3 1977–1980 undivided 0.3 0.6 −0.3 1964–1968 undivided 1.9 1.4 0.5 1969–1974 divided −1.8 2.1 −3.9
Economist Steve H. Hanke has shown that divided US Congresses—which occur when one party holds the majority in the House of Representatives and another holds the majority in the Senate—tend to accompany reductions in total federal outlays (spending) relative to gross domestic product (GDP), which Hanke interprets to reflect decreases in government size. Hanke calculated the percentage point change in total outlays (encompassing nondefense and defense outlays) for consecutive US Congresses. Hanke has pointed to his calculations as evidence that a divided Congress may be a “necessary but not sufficient condition” for a decrease in government size to occur.
Which choice best describes data from the table that support the underlined claim?