Congressional Budgets Pass Early Tests on Deficits and Economy, But Questions Remain

"On the whole, the budget plans that the House and Senate approved yesterday pass the twin tests of: 

(1) beginning to address long-term deficits, or at least not making these deficits worse; and

(2) not undermining the fiscal stimulus Congress recently passed.   

The Senate's adoption, however, of amendments that are intended both to facilitate a further large tax cut for the estates of the nation's wealthiest individuals and to make it less likely that Congress will allow the Bush tax cuts to expire for people at the top of the income scale suggests that significant dangers lie ahead.  The adoption of these measures raises questions about Senators' professed concerns about deficits and debt and about whether Congress has the fortitude to begin making hard choices..."

The full Policy Points is posted to:
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=2764
http://www.cbpp.org/files/policypoints4-3-09.pdf  3pp.