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

As a candidate for the Senate in 1996, Ben Nelson regularly railed against deficit spending by the federal government and promised to lead the fight in Washington to balance the federal budget.

In fact, Ben Nelson has recently made the following remarks about the deficit:

• “When I’m Home In Nebraska Every Weekend People Often Come Up To Me At The Grocery Store, Hardware Store And Tell Me They’re Concerned About Our National Deficit And Debt. They Want Washington To Cut Spending And Bring Down The Cloud Of Debt That Hangs Over Our Economic Future.” (Senator Ben Nelson, “Senate Votes 98-1 For Nelson Amendment To Cut U.S. Senate Budget By 5 Percent,” Press Release, 3/16/11) 

• “We Can’t Continue On A Path That Has Led To A $1.5 Trillion Deficit This Year And A $14 Trillion National Debt. That’s A Road To Economic Nowhere.” (Senator Ben Nelson, “Nelson Says More Spending Cuts Needed In Washington,” Press Release, 3/2/11)

Yet, as the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed in a report released this morning, in the last three years that Ben Nelson 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 Ben Nelson’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 Jahan Wilcox said today.  “Since Ben Nelson has come to Washington, he’s maxed out the government credit card, expanded government to record levels and voted to raise taxes on Nebraska families.  Nebraskans deserves better.”