jonny5
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It depends how you measure it. Obama didn't increase the deficit to 1.4 Trillion. The US fiscal year is October 1-September 1. That means the 2009 budget was already set and in place for almost 5 months when Obama took office. Furthermore, Obama moved the cost of the wars from emergency measures to actual budgetary items. That means that the deficits included the real long term costs of the war.
So Obama did lower the deficit between 300-400 Billion dollars which is a near record amount in dollars, but much less impressive number in percentage.
It's a fair talking point, but it's not a significant accomplishment.
Except that for FY2009, most of the appropriations bills werent passed until after Obama took office. And the wars still counted against spending, whether they were emergency funding or not. Outlays are outlays, and the deficit number measures revenue - outlays. Then theres the additional programs that Obama specifically signed, that were not part of the budget. The stimulus, auto bailout, etc.
Some things are indeed shared by Bush and Obama in 2009. TARP for example.
Status of Appropriations Legislation for Fiscal Year 2009 - THOMAS (Library of Congress)