The President’s Budget Proposals Will Lead the Federal Debt to Approach 200 Percent of GDP Over the Next 70 Years
The President’s Budget Proposals Will Lead the Federal Debt to Approach 200 Percent of GDP Over the Next 70 Years
SOURCE: Office of Management and Budget, The Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2013, Analytical Perspectives
The President’s budget stabilizes the debt only in the short-term. If all of the proposals in the budget were adopted, government debt would still soar to unsustainable levels in the long run, even under the optimistic assumptions used in the administration’s long-run projections. Under less optimistic assumptions, debt would grow even faster. The President’s long-run budget projections assume that discretionary spending remains well below its 30-year historical average and that the growth of health care spending will slow significantly.
Download OMB’s Long-Term Budget Outlook
Download OMB’s Long-Term Budget Projections
Click here to read Michael Peterson’s statement on President Obama’s Budget.
Click here to read Michael Peterson’s op-ed in Politico.
Further Reading
The Highway Trust Fund Explained
The funding structure of the Highway Trust Fund requires serious, long-term changes, but how to approach reform remains a topic of debate.
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About the Federal Budget?
A strong fiscal outlook is an essential foundation for a growing, thriving economy. Take our quiz to see how much you really know about the federal budget.
What Is Stepped-Up Basis on Capital Gains and How Does It Affect the Federal Budget?
The step-up in basis is a provision in tax law that relates to how assets — such as stocks, bonds, or real estate — are valued and taxed after their owner passes away.