Dems & Debt: ‘Just Put It On The National Credit Card’

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “…we don’t want a reform to balloon the debt… we should not pile hundreds of billions, maybe trillions more on top of the debt. Tax reform should be deficit neutral.” (Sen. Schumer, Congressional Record, S.5244, 9/13/2017)

REALITY: ‘This Budget Resolution Puts Our Nation On A Path To Balance’

SEN. MIKE ENZI (R-WY): “This budget resolution puts our nation on a path to balance by restraining federal spending, reducing tax burdens, and boosting economic growth.” (Sen. Enzi, Press Release, 9/29/2017)

• SEN. ENZI: “The FY 2018 Budget Resolution: PROVIDES a path to balance by restraining federal spending, reducing tax burdens, and boosting economic growth. … PROVIDES an on-budget surplus of $197 billion in 2027 as a result of fiscal constraint and economic growth.” (Sen. Enzi, Press Release, 9/29/2017)

Meanwhile, Dems Are Advocating A $32 Trillion Government Health Care Takeover Plan

“Democrats are increasingly committing to support single-payer healthcare, amid … pressure from their party’s left-wing base. What was once considered only a progressive talking point has gained traction as more Democratic candidates have been willing to embrace government-funded healthcare on the campaign trail and more House members have been signing onto the idea.” (“Single-Payer Healthcare Gains Traction With Dems,” The Hill, 7/09/2017)

• “Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) championed the idea…” (“Single-Payer Healthcare Gains Traction With Dems,” The Hill, 7/09/2017)

• “Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, often named as a potential Democratic presidential candidate, announced her support on Tuesday for Sen. Bernie Sanders' forthcoming legislation… Other senators who previously announced their support include a who’s who in progressive politics: Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Kamala Harris of California, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Cory Booker of New Jersey.” (“Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Backs Bernie Sanders' Bill For Government-Run 'Single-Payer' Health Care,” USA Today, 9/12/2017)

THE WASHINGTON POST: “[T]he government’s price tag would be astonishing. When Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed a ‘Medicare for all’ health plan in his presidential campaign, the nonpartisan Urban Institute figured that it would raise government spending by $32 trillion over 10 years, requiring a tax increase so huge that even the democratic socialist Mr. Sanders did not propose anything close to it.” (Editorial, “Single-Payer Health Care Would Have An Astonishingly High Price Tag,” The Washington Post, 6/18/2017)

“To realize the single-payer dream of coverage for all and big savings, medical industry players, including doctors, would likely have to get paid less and patients would have to accept different standards of access and comfort. There is little evidence most Americans are willing to accept such tradeoffs.” (Editorial, “Single-Payer Health Care Would Have An Astonishingly High Price Tag,” The Washington Post, 6/18/2017)

… After Former-President Obama ‘Just Put It On The National Credit Card’

More Than Nine Trillion Dollars Added To The Debt

“Former President Obama left office having added $9.3 trillion to the national debt, according to numbers from the Treasury Department.” (“Obama Leaves Office Having Added $9.3 Trillion To Debt,” Washington Free Beacon, 1/21/2017)

• JACK LEW, Treasury Secretary Under President Obama: “…we have just put it on the national credit card. And we have built up the debt...” (PBS, 2/14/11)

$9.32 trillion added to the debt under President Obama (“The Debt To The Penny And Who Holds It,” U.S. Treasury Department, Accessed 1/26/12)

• $19.95 Trillion – Total public debt outstanding, January 20, 2017. (“The Debt To The Penny And Who Holds It,” U.S. Treasury Department, Accessed 1/3/13)
• $10.63 Trillion – Total public debt outstanding, January 20, 2009. (“The Debt To The Penny And Who Holds It,” U.S. Treasury Department, Accessed 1/3/13)

‘A Deficit Of More Than $1 Trillion For Every Year Of Obama’s First Term’

“…the United States recorded a deficit of more than $1 trillion for every year of Obama’s first term…” (“CBO Projects $1.08 Trillion Deficit, 8.9 Percent Jobless Rate In 2012” The Hill, 1/31/12)

OMB:  Total federal deficits

• FY’2009 -- $1,41 trillion
• FY’2010 -- $1.29 trillion
• FY’2011 -- $1.30 trillion
• FY’2012 -- $1.09 trillion

(“President’s FY’2018 Budget,” Office of management and budget, Historical Tables, Table 1.1)

Dems Enthusiastically Supported A ‘Deficit-Spending Behemoth’ Stimulus Bill, Admitted It ‘Will Surely Add To The Deficit’

“…a deficit-spending behemoth...” (“The Blue Dogs Bark,” Politico, 2/5/2009)

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): “It is troubling to hear the frequent criticism … that this is going to add to our deficit. No one doubts that. ... It will surely add to the deficit. But doing nothing, taking the approach that has been espoused by many on the other side of the aisle, will lead to even greater deficits and more suffering.” (Sen. Durbin, Congressional Record, S.2171, 2/12/2009)

CHRIS WALLACE, Fox News: “You're about to pass a $1 trillion spending program. That's not — that's not fiscal discipline.” REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): “No, no. It is discipline.” WALLACE: “You want to do this in the middle of a recession?” PELOSI: “First of all, we are not proposing a $1 trillion...” WALLACE: “Stimulus.” PELOSI: “It's eight hundred and a quarter...” WALLACE: “OK.” PELOSI: “... recovery package that will grow the economy to bring more revenue into the — into the Treasury so that we can reduce the deficit.” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” 1/18/2009)