Republicans do say things like
"Today the United States spends more on its schools than all other countries combined. This does not make America any better educated."
But they don't say things like
"Today the United States spends more on health care than all other countries combined. This does not make America any healthier."
I guess the difference depends on whether the spending is lavished on worthless government bureaucrats or innovative job creators and free enterprise entrepreneurs.
It also depends on whether or not whoever gets to wind up with that money is likely to vote for you or not.