The problem, as always, is that voters are likely to say they want Congress to balance the budget, but are less likely to back any specific ideas for doing so.
Neither party is serious about reining in spending. This is unsustainable.
In three years in office, Trump has added more to the national debt than President George W. Bush did in his entire two terms.
Will tonight be any different or more of the same?
The conservative radio host says he is running for president because Trump is “erratic" and "cruel." But Walsh has his own history to live down.
Plus: Fashion versus the police state, a truce in the Kansas-Missouri border war, and more....
The $866 billion budget gap so far this fiscal year represents a 27 percent increase over the same period last year.
The idea that "deficits don't matter" has been growing among Trump-supporting Republicans. Democrats are preparing to take full advantage.
CNN doesn't think Americans deserve to hear potential presidents asked about the national debt.
Members of Congress are well aware of the looming threat of the $22 trillion (and growing) national debt, but seem incapable of doing anything except making it worse.
The House Freedom Caucus could reverse its trend towards irrelevancy by successfully swaying Trump to turn against the new budget deal.
If President Donald Trump signs the deal into law, he will have authorized a 22 percent increase in federal discretionary spending during his first term in office.
The federal government will spend $57 trillion over the next 10 years and run an $11 trillion deficit. But cutting spending by $150 billion is too much to ask?
The pundit heavily criticized President Obama for excessive spending. Now he says it doesn't matter.
The national debt will hit 140 percent of GDP before the end of the 2040s, and that's the optimistic scenario.
"Show me the majority for cutting spending," he says.
Paul's proposal to cut 2 percent from the federal budget for the next five years was predictably opposed by both Democrats and most Republicans
What's the point of a "limited government" bloc that doesn't limit government?
America will face "serious economic, security, and social challenges" if the national debt keeps growing at this rate.
A new record, but one that won't stand for long.
From OMB head Mick Mulvaney to former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, nobody cares about spending money we don't have on things we don't need. Big mistake.
Or the $22 trillion (and counting) national debt. Or the entitlement programs that will continue adding to them.
Proponents of jacking top marginal income tax rates such as AOC ignore how hard it is to actually boost revenue over the long haul.
You can't have it both ways.
Growth alone won't get us out of this mess.
At this rate we'll get there before the end of the century.
Brian Riedl has a plan to stabilize the national debt at 95 percent of GDP. He says trying it might be political suicide, but the alternative is much worse.
Just days after the latest CBO projections showed the deficit getting worse, Congress signs off on another bi-partisan spending increase.
New CBO analysis shows debt could exceed 200 percent (!!!) of GDP by mid-century without changes.
Entitlement spending, health care costs, and the GOP tax legislation will drive up the debt.
Medicare will run dry even sooner. Do you trust anyone in Washington to solve this problem?
Thursday's vote is an empty gesture. Worse, it's a hypocritical one.
The president wants his border wall funding.
Four out of five voters agree that Washington has a spending problem, but a new omnibus spending bill will add yet more to the national debt.
The feds can't pass a budget or do much very well, yet a record level of Americans want it more involved in our lives. That's not as crazy as it seems.
If a Republican president can't address a Republican-controlled Congress without paying lip service to the idea of cutting spending, what good are Republicans?
Despite big promises, it fails in its primary mission: paying for the actual cost of government
The former deficit hawk gets budget-busting religion now that he holds real power.
Too much debt slows economic growth and reduces living standards.
Now that Trump's made a deal with Democrats, our national debt is higher than ever.
Reason editors discuss the debt ceiling, Hurricane Irma, and the 9/11 anniversary.
The president and congressional Democrats just worked together on a bad debt ceiling and budget deal.
Plenty of GOP members would rather put Barack Obama on Mount Rushmore than underwrite this addled project.
The best place to start would be a cap on all spending or a strict cut-as-you-go system.
Low interest rates ease the pain of carrying so much debt. But in the long run, somehow, the U.S. will end up paying for it.
