A deficit of ambition

[Draggingtree]

Chicago Tribune:

A deficit of ambition

 

Senate Democrats would let rivers of red ink flow on forever

 

March 17, 2013

 

There is no one alive more revered and beloved among Democrats than Bill Clinton, who showed at last year's national convention what a rock star he is. One of his most historic achievements as president was something that eluded Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush: balancing the federal budget. He did it four straight years. For Democrats, it was cause for great pride.

 

But that was a long time ago. Last week, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray, D-Wash., produced a budget plan — the first one to come from the Senate in four years.

The two blueprints have many differences, but the biggest of all is that Ryan's aims at eliminating the annual federal deficit by 2023. Murray's would balance the budget ... well, never. In 2023, the Democratic budget's deficit would be $566 billion. Over the coming decade, her plan would add $5.2 trillion to the total debt — more than four times the $1.2 trillion the Ryan version would add.