Congressional Budget Office Predicts $1.3T Deficit in 2011, Third Largest in 65 Years

As a candidate for the Senate in 2006, Bob Casey regularly railed against deficit spending by the federal government and promised to lead the fight in Washington on behalf of deficit reduction and a balanced federal budget.

In fact, at one Senate debate in 2006, Casey said the following:

• “I’m for, I’m for fiscal responsibility. Hey, Rick, you’re–there’s only one guy sitting at this table running for the Senate who voted for those record deficits and voted to raise the debt number more in, in a couple of years than every president from George Washington to, to Bill Clinton. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do. I’m, I’m the one who’s been fiscally responsible in my work. You ought to try it.” (2006 Pennsylvania Senate Debate, “Meet The Press,” 9/3/06)

Today the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed in a report that – by his own standards – Casey has “a lot of explaining to do.”  The report reveals that in the last three years that Bob Casey has been in Washington – and supporting every single one of President Obama’s big-government spending programs – the federal government has recorded the three largest deficits in the last 65 years.   The CBO also noted that the national unemployment rate – now at 9.1 percent – isn’t expected to drop below 8 percent until 2014.

“For those who wonder about the consequences of Bob Casey’s disastrous economic record and his willingness to rubber-stamp President Obama’s reckless spending agenda, they need not look any further than today’s report,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond said today.  “Since Bob Casey has come to Washington, he’s maxed out the government credit card, expanded government to record levels and voted to raise taxes on Pennsylvania families.  Pennsylvanians deserve better.”

BACKGROUND…

AS A CANDIDATE IN 2006, CASEY SAID HE WAS “FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY”…

• 2006: Casey Said He Was “For Fiscal Responsibility”: “I’m for, I’m for fiscal responsibility. Hey, Rick, you’re–there’s only one guy sitting at this table running for the Senate who voted for those record deficits and voted to raise the debt number more in, in a couple of years than every president from George Washington to, to Bill Clinton. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do. I’m, I’m the one who’s been fiscally responsible in my work. You ought to try it.” (2006 Pennsylvania Senate Debate, “Meet The Press,” 9/3/06)

•  Casey Recently Said “Long-Term Deficits And Debts Are Not Sustainable.” “U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, released the following statement after President Obama released his proposed budget: ‘I will closely review President Obama’s budget proposal and its impact on Pennsylvania, job creation and the economy as the congressional budget process moves forward.  Long-term deficits and debts are not sustainable.” (Senator Bob Casey, “Casey On President Obama’s Budget,” Press Release, 2/14/11)