Analysts Expect Smaller Budget Deficit (a mere $422 B)

[underpants]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/budget_deficit

WASHINGTON - Congress' top budget analysts still expect the 2004 federal deficit to set a record, though a smaller one than they and the White House anticipated earlier in this election year.


The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (news - web sites) was releasing its annual summertime deficit forecast on Tuesday, eight weeks before the presidential and congressional elections. In a preliminary report in early August, the budget office said it expected this year's shortfall to hit $422 billion — well above last year's $375 billion gap, the largest ever in dollar terms.


When adjusted to erase the effects of inflation, the 2004 projected deficit is expected to exceed every annual shortfall since World War II.


In January, the Congressional Budget Office projected a $477 billion shortfall for this year. It revised its estimate down to $422 billion last month, attributing most of the improvement to stronger than anticipated revenue collections.

[Frodo]

1. Hey!

What's a couple Billion between friends?

[underpants]

3. Eh, a billion here a billion there

pretty soon you are talking about real money.

[sonicx]

2. oh ya, gotta vote for bush now. he's lowering the deficit. *snort* nt

[Moderator]

4. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=806901