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

As a candidate for the Senate in 2006, Jon Tester regularly railed against deficit spending by the federal government and promised to lead the fight in Washington to balance the federal budget.

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

• “I’m Not About To Put My Kids’ Future And Opportunity On The Line So I Can Spend Money Like A Drunken Sailor. I Am Going To Be Fiscally Responsible. And The Fact Is If You Would Support A Pay-As-You-Go In This Government, We Wouldn’t Be In A Situation Where We Have Every Man, Woman, And Child, And Every Child To Be Born With A $30,000 Debt.” (Montana Senate Debate, www.c-spanvideo.org, 10/12/06)  Video Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlHE4FzuO2I

Yet, as the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed in a report released this morning, in the last three years that Jon Tester 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 Jon Tester’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 Jon Tester has come to Washington, he’s maxed out the government credit card, expanded government to record levels and voted to raise taxes on Montana families.  Montana deserves better.”

BACKGROUND…

AS A CANDIDATE IN 2006, TESTER PROMISED TO “LEAD EFFORTS TO BALANCE THE FEDERAL BUDGET”:

•  “Jon Tester Will Lead Efforts To Balance The Federal Budget and stop stealing from the Social Security trust fund.” (Jon Tester For U.S. Senate Website, “Real Change, Real Vision For Montana Plan,” www.testerforsenate.com, Accessed 3/29/11)

•   Tester: “I’m Not About To Put My Kids’ Future And Opportunity On The Line So I Can Spend Money Like A Drunken Sailor. I Am Going To Be Fiscally Responsible. And The Fact Is If You Would Support A Pay-As-You-Go In This Government, We Wouldn’t Be In A Situation Where We Have Every Man, Woman, And Child, And Every Child To Be Born With A $30,000 Debt.”(Montana Senate Debate, www.c-spanvideo.org, 10/12/06)

• Tester: “The Fact Is You Need To Have People Back There That Have Experience In Balancing A Checkbook And Can Set Priorities. I’ve Been Able To Balance A Checkbook In The Private Sector And In The Public Sector.”(Montana Senate Debate, www.c-spanvideo.org, 10/9/06)