Something I've noticed over the years...
The party out of power is ALWAYS more "budget conscious" than the party in power.
I'd love to think there's a noble reason for this, but I suspect it has more to do with fighting the dominant party's enhanced ability to woo voters with cash than any ideals about smaller or more effective government.
The party out of power also has less contact with lobbyists, less money coming to them from contributors, and less corruption. Nothing noble about that, either. Money flows to power, and power corrupts.