Progress on the Deficit?

Just remember this when you hear democrats say they are tackling the budget crisis in America.

President Obama made a promise early in his presidency, saying, “today I’m pledging to cut the deficit we inherited in half by the end of my first term in office. This will not be easy. It will require us to make difficult decisions and face challenges we’ve long neglected. But I refuse to leave our children with a debt that they cannot repay — and that means taking responsibility right now, in this administration, for getting our spending under control.”

The deficit Obama inherited was $1.3 trillion.  Obama's 2013 budget projects a deficit of $1.15 trillion.  Some say that is a rosy forecast and the actual budget deficit will be far higher.  As I write this, Congress is debating extending the Social Security payroll tax through the end of 2012 and just adding the $200 billion cost to the deficit.  This not only has Obama's approval, it is his preferred way to handle the cost.  If it passes, the deficit balloons to $1.35 trillion for 2013.

Mr. president, we are not making any progress toward the most significant issue facing the country.