If you look at the studies coming out of the Congressional Budget Office, the number one thing that's going to blow a hole in the deficit as we go forward 20, 30 years is government spending on healthcare.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
If you're worried about the deficit, pay attention to the fact that it's almost all attributable to military spending and the totally dysfunctional health program.
When the economy is growing, there's a lot that can be done to deal with the deficit.
I know the exploding cost of health care is at the root of our long-term fiscal challenges.
A lot of people say, 'Why do health-care reform when the deficits are so big?' But that is when we've got to do it.
Understanding that yes, we are committing more resources than we thought we might be in protecting our homeland and prosecuting a war and so it's understandable that we would be going through a period of deficits.
The American people will eventually get hurt by this accumulated deficit. That's the problem. We have too much deficit. We have to find a solution.
Well, I think what we need to remember is that budget deficits can impede economic activity.
The government has made $44 trillion in promises we can't afford to keep. We must get serious now about our long-term budgetary problems, recognizing that the sooner we act, the less painful the choices will be.
The goal is to reduce the size and scope of government spending, not to focus on the deficit. The deficit is the symptom of the disease.
I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.