Trump Deficits each year between $1 trillion and $2 Trillion!!! Fiscal Conservative Myth Busted!

So, what was really behind the Trump Republican criticism of Obama's deficits? 

Trump’s own Office of Management and Budget agrees with CBO that the deficit will come close to or exceed $1 trillion a year through at least 2022.

This doesn’t include spending for a space force, an infrastructure plan or a wall between the United States and Mexico ... the projected $200 billion a year revenue loss from the new GOP tax bill the House will debate before the election or the additional spending that will be needed because of Hurricane Florence ... doesn’t include the lower revenues and higher spending that will happen if the economy slows below current expectations.

A combination of these things could easily cause the U.S. deficit to approach $2 trillion annually.

Republican blames Deficit Explosion on "the thing that Washington always does," not Massive Tax Cuts!

Here they go again. Remember when Republicans distanced themselves from George W. Bush because of the Great Recession and endless wars? They never really liked him I guess.

Republicans Regret Deficit-Increasing Tax Cuts? Yup. Republicans never intended to increase the deficit with their massive tax cuts, believe it or not. Even after the CBO warned them.

Best and Most Embarrassing Tax Cut Walk Back: Republican Rep. Jim Jordan's laughable regret is a wonder to watch:

Jordan: "I'm very bothered by it...yet we did the thing that Washington always does, the swamp always does, we just said let's just spend more money on everything, push the bill off onto someone else in the future. Yea, I'm very concerned about it, every member should be concerned about it. 

Retire nonsensical "Letting People Keep more of the Money" bullshit: Jordan goes over the top justifying the upcoming huge $1.9 trillion dollar deficit by claiming to "let people keep more of their money?" Uh, until they have to pay that and the rest of the debt back?

Jordan: "So I don't buy into the idea that letting the American people keep their money is somehow a cost to the government. I think it is just good policy letting you keep what you earn, letting the economy grow...

...ready for it? Take it away Jim Jordan...

Jordan: "The problem with the deficit and debt is spending, it's not letting people keep their money, it's not tax cuts, it's spending. Those tax cuts are good, they are going to produce better economic growth, we know that, and people are going to keep more of their money...the problem is spending."

And who did the spending? Jordan already said it; the Republican swamp.

The Verdict on GOP Tax Cuts....enjoy increase Federal Debt.

Here are few comments about the House-passed tax cut passage Paul Ryan is so happy about.

Bruce Bartlett is not just a historian but an expert on supply-side economics. Here's what he thinks about the GOP tax cuts...so true:

Bartlett: "They (GOP) want to tie the deficit around the Democrats necks, and make them vote for very unpopular deficit reduction legislation...when the deficits are caused by the Republicans."

As usual, Ezra Klein cuts to the GOP "tax cut for the middle-class BS, and confirms, there is no such thing as "good old fashions deficit hawks." It's myth Republicans like to bring out whenever Democrats are in office:

Exploding the deficit: Take it from Forbes Magazine's Stan Collender, predicts a permanent annual deficit of about $1 trillion:



Do CEO's think they're going to reinvest in their corporations with the tax savings?

Mulvaney: Screw Deficits, Tax Cuts and Letting Wealthy Keep Their Money is Goal.

For the longest time I've been trying to figure out is whether Republicans actually believe their bullshit; or each deserve their own "Oscar" for keeping a straight face while "sincerely" sticking to their "core values."

Finally, the Cold Hard Truth: One of the most brutal policy wonks ever, besides Paul Ryan, is Trump's budget director Mich Mulvaney. Remember when Mulvaney said how wrong it was to go to a single mom in Detroit with two kids and ask for money to help fund Head Start? Actually, he doesn't care about her or her two kids who are probably using Head Start. Mulvaney is out to protect billionaires from redistributing their wealth:

Mick Mulvaney, in a new interview with CNBC’s John Harwood, basically admits that what he cares about is reducing transfers from the rich to the poor:

Mulvaney: "Bad spending, to me, in terms of its economic benefit, would be wealth-transfer payments. It’s a misallocation of resources. Infrastructure is sort of that good spending in the middle, where ... you do misallocate resources a little bit. At the other end of the spectrum, at the very other end, is letting people keep more of their money, which — while it can contribute to the deficit in a large fashion — is the most efficient way to actually allocate resources. It’s a little less important to me if infrastructure adds to the deficit. And I’m really not interested in how tax reform handles the deficit."

What makes Mulvaney’s comments so unusual is not only their frankness, but also their comprehensiveness. Republican politicians tend to … frame their opposition to transfer payments as concern about deficits, while framing their desire of regressive tax cuts as being unrelated to deficits. Mulvaney is essentially conceding that deficits have nothing to do with the Republican fiscal agenda.

Now that Republicans are in control: Budget Deficit Increases after 6 years of Decline.....

I think this says it all about our big talking supply-siders...an actual paragraph from the CBO report:

Huffington Post: "The government will spend $544 billion more than it takes in this year -- a $105 billion increase in the deficit from 2015, according to the CBO. At the same time, federal spending will increase by more than 20 percent … the result of a 7 percent increase in mandatory spending, a 3 percent increase in discretionary dollars, and a 14 percent jump in interest payments on debt … including a tax extenders package attached to the omnibus appropriations bill." 

Minnesota's Democratic Party projected Surpluses vs Wisconsin's Republican projected shortfalls.

As Minnesota out distances Wisconsin in almost every way, Republicans should be forced to answer the question why Wisconsin can't keep up. Oh sure, they'll bore us with old talking points that in no way compares to the way Minnesota is beating us. Scott Walker can't pull out his only bragging point about the unemployment numbers since Minnesota's is even lower. 

Growth may be slower in Minnesota, but that's because the state has already recovered, while Wisconsin is still trying to gained back the jobs lost during the Bush Great Recession. 

But Walker's Republicans will say Minnesota's surplus is bad, because it means they've overtaxed their citizens. SJ: 

While Wisconsin's budget, enacted in July, sets the state up for a $210 million structural deficit, legislators across the Mississippi are arguing over how to spend a $1.9 billion surplus.

Give that surplus money back!!! That's what George W. said when he became president, paving the way for tax cuts. Instead of using those surpluses to pay the nations debt and replace our crumbling infrastructure, he wiped out what Mitch Daniels called "surpluses as far as the eye could see." And for good measure, plunged the nation into trillion dollar wars. 

Projected surpluses should be used to replenish and rebuild, improve and save, not give back as tax cuts. The money we invest now will be money our kids will not have to raise later on in the form of taxes. Tax cuts now just gives the bill to another generation. 

Some of Minnesota's extra money must go to its budget reserves, but the remaining $1.2 billion is up for grabs. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, is calling for the money to be spent on road and bridge improvements and expanding early childhood education. 

But Minnesota Republicans argue a surplus that large is a sure sign the state has overtaxed its citizens. 

Wisconsin legislators will have a $210 million projected shortfall to account for going into the 2017-19 budget.

Trump plays Walker's Deficit Con Game! Gotcha.

What goes around comes around: I loved the fact that Trump blamed Walker for losing $2.2 billion in Wisconsin, a wonderfully misleading number that's not true...but it was so ironic. Satisfying beyond belief, we finally saw a Republican become the victim of their own twisted con game. Here's why:

In November 2014, the Wisconsin Department of Administration said state agencies' budget requests would exceed expected revenues by $2.2 billion dollars for the 2015-2017 budget cycle.

The Irony; Walker's supposed $3.6 billion inherited budget deficit, which he mentions in the clip below, is based on the same misleading "budget requested" numbers used by Trump. So Trump used the same trick Walker's been using since he became governor. And Walker never caught on apparently, because a smart guy would not have brought it up, much less highlight the same con.

So Trump inadvertently, out Walker'ed Walker: 

Both Senate and House Republican balanced Budget proposals Increase Taxes on Families and Businesses, Despite the Denials.

Funny thing about Republicans, they're crazy deficit exploding tax cuts and increases have never gotten much notice before, until now. They're in charge of congress, so now the truth is coming out....

AP: FACT CHECK: Higher taxes to balance GOP budgets: The new House and Senate Republican budgets make a big boast: They both balance the federal budget within 10 years, without raising taxes. Their own numbers, however, say millions of American families and businesses would have to pay more in taxes to make the math work — about $900 billion more over the next decade.

Both budgets also claim big savings by repealing President Barack Obama's health law. But at the same time, they rely on more than $1 trillion in tax revenue from the health law that would supposedly be repealed.

So how do they explain keeping the ObamaCare tax revenue? Why they're going to...change...the tax code...yea, that's the ticket:

The House Republican budget repeals all of Obamacare — including the Obamacare tax hikes while calling for fundamental tax reform. A revamped tax code could raise just as much revenue as the system in place today, but without the harmful tax policies embedded in current law (like the Affordable Care Act)."

What, Walker wrong? $535 million surplus really $283 million deficit? Who knew?

I guess it's not surprising Scott Walker won his reelection, after all, it was another one of those notorious midterm elections where Republicans turn out like flies on shit.

Even Walker's confidently stated lies can't break the trust they put in their "leader."

But to portray the struggling state of our economy, hit hard by the failure of his supply side austerity agenda, as somehow moving Wisconsin forward...would that be the last straw ... Walker's last big whopper and insult to our intelligence? Nope!

It now looks like the liberal blogosphere's warnings were amazingly accurate, again:

After telling his panting followers the above complete fabrication, he gave his now classic Walker "yes" nod. He does that a lot, to "catapult the propaganda," as George W. Bush say. The truth is, he's officially $283 million short this year, and faces this projection...

jsonline: Gov. Scott Walker begins his second term … plug a $2.2 billion state budget gap.

Of course that doesn't include the $750 million transportation budget gap, which Walker now brags he's going to borrow. And don't forget he's taking out a $220 million state loan to help build the Buck's arena. He's looking out for the taxpayers?

PolitiFact:

He asked for an estimate of the budget challenge assuming that lawmakers would hold most spending at 2014-’15 levels for the two following years, and tax revenue would rise at the five-year average of 2.9 percent. That yielded an estimate of a $535 million surplus.

That rosy number flies in the face of the official estimate that uses a long-established method used by members of both parties, and the governor’s budget office.

We rate the claim False.

Walker Plunges state into Deeper Hole, supporters love it, want Walker to run for president? Strange but true.

The real numbers are in, and our whiny Republican majority can't blame former Gov. Jim Doyle for the massive budget shortfalls they now have sitting in their laps. In fact, their own mishandling of the budget has created an almost similar deficit number. "Stand with Walker" Borgites won't notice or care, after all, they're in power now, so what. But some Republicans have already told us deficits are good...when it happens under their watch of course. jsonline-Jason Stein: 

"Come on down..." says Walker.

To keep the state doing what it does now through mid-2017, Gov. Scott Walker and lawmakers have to come up with $928 million in spending cuts or tax increases, according to estimates released Friday by the Legislature's budget office. The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau found that to continue current operations ... state officials have to find $283 million this year plus another $648 million over the following two-year budget beginning July 1. The shortfall in the state's main account becomes even larger — more than $2 billion — in the unlikely event elected officials seek to provide all of the added spending requested by agencies through June 2017 and the additional tax cuts promised by Walker in his successful re-election campaign last year.

Rewarded for withholding their payment to the state, the Potawatomi tribe’s threat helped force Scott Walker to deny the Kenosha casino, killing thousands of jobs and potential state revenues. Hey, that’s just business folks, like high speed rail and solar power. But mining ore that's no longer in demand...?

The fiscal bureau's numbers don't include a roughly $25 million gambling payment that the Potawatomi tribe owes the state from last year and committed to paying Friday, or an additional $25 million that can now be expected from the tribe this summer.

Keep in mind, the transportation fund used lots of general revenue dollars last time. With the shortfall…well, this will be fun to watch:

The estimated shortfalls don't reflect the added financial pressures in the state's separate transportation account nor does the report include any tax cuts that Walker may include in the 2015-'17 budget bill that he'll deliver on Feb. 3. 

And yet, former secretary of state candidate and Republican Party operative Julian Bradley thinks Walker's record is enough to catapult Walker into the White House. Try not to laugh:

Bradley: "The reason people are talking about Gov. Walker for president is because how well he's governed our state. That's can't be denied. You just can't manufacture a candidate with broad national appeal. The governor has earned the right to be in this conversation...he survived a recall...the caller was asking about Act 10, and how nobody liked it and this was all part of plan to try and run for president but really it was part of a plan to bring our state political, or rather financial system back in order." 

Yea, this is what our "system back in order" looks like. What is about GOP candidates running on really bad jobs and economic records? This is almost surreal. Audio from WPR:

Walker predictions wrong, get him reelected, but never materialize thanks to Supply Side Economics.

Remember this golden oldies from the last state of the state?

The governor touted a memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau issued a few days before last year's speech that said the state would have $911 million more than expected as an ending balance by June 2015, creating a total surplus of just more than $1 billion.

That didn't happen. Thanks to WISC's Jessica Arp, we have this Fact Check update:

Because of the tax cuts and many other factors, by the time the Legislature adjourned in March, the surplus was down to just $165 million. Then, in November, a memo issued by the administration said it is now $132 million in the red. 

Here's Arp's report:

And without the governors leadership and focus, educational maneuvers are not working out like we were told. In fact, we're spending money without getting a return on the investment:

News 3 found $28 million awarded to all 16 tech colleges in July to open nearly 5,000 new spots. So far, 1,526 students are enrolled statewide in those spots, and 252 of them have completed training.

Don't hold your breath waiting for adjustments. But the governors favorite forward thinking occupation, welding (?), is taking off:

Madison College officials said so far, they've added spots for 425 students and have eliminated one waiting list in welding.

Walker is barely paying attention to anything now, letting things slide...:

On the high school training programs, News 3 found a grant application wasn't posted until last month, so that $3 million has not been spent.

The Real Walker Deficit? A possible $4 billion Hole!!!

Do we have a $2.2 billion projected budget deficit or don’t we? Let’s cut the crap here. It could very realistically be more.

The most amazing mind to chime in on the issue is Winnebago County Executive and former Democratic candidate for the 6th Congressional District Mark Harris. Cap Times:

When Walker took office that year, the state faced a $2.5 billion shortfall. After about $1.1 billion of state agency funding requests were added in, that projected deficit amounted to $3.6 billion.

(Harris) voiced concerns that people might compare it with the $2.2 billion estimate from the DOA memo … pointed out a difference in the way the two figures were calculated.

Harris is pointing out how the new Walker estimates include “projected” new revenue, where under Doyle’s shortfall, no revenues were figured in. Big difference:

Think what I can do to the country!

The (Doyle) $3.6 billion number was based on the baseline biennial budget number — including neither increases in revenue nor increases in expenses — combined with agency budget requests, Harris said.

But the current DOA estimate includes $1.4 billion in new revenue. "If you back these revenue increases out of the $2.2 billion figure you will get $3.6 billion," Harris said in an email.

Harris also said "Revenues for the last eight months of this fiscal year would have to run more than 8 percent ahead of the same months of the prior fiscal year in order to reach the DOA projection," Harris said. "I believe that the shortfall measured on a similar basis with four years ago would be close to $4 billion."

If that weren't bad enough, Walker's recently proposed tax cuts will only make things worse:

The state expects revenues to fall $2.2 billion short of what state agencies have requested to operate in the 2015-17 budget.

But those agencies won't get everything they ask for. Plus, these calculations don't account for income and property tax cuts promised by Walker for the next budget. That means this estimate will change.

Another of Walker's Biggest Campaign Lies: we have a $535 million budget surplus!!!

Who didn't see this one coming? "Stand with Walker" drones, that's who:

Here's how slick Scotty did it again; it's the old career politicians double standard trick:

Walker’s own budgets report the "structural deficit" number using the method the Fiscal Bureau used to come up with $1.8 billion. Indeed, Walker has used the "structural deficit" estimates to his advantage in the past and even has made it the centerpiece of his re-election campaign.  the governor is seeking to have it both ways, trumpeting the bureau’s method when it suits him and rejecting it when it does not. Walker told debate viewers: "The next state budget will begin with a surplus of over half a billion dollars -- $535 million to be exact."

That rosy number flies in the face of the official estimate that uses a long-established method used by members of both parties, and the governor’s budget office.

We rate the claim False.

Walker last in job growth since becoming governor. And his projected deficit hole $3 Billion Deep?

WISC's Jessica Arp takes a detailed look at Scott Walker's actual jobs record, for last year and since he's been governor.

This self important big shot actually thinks business can't survive without him in office. The following might be a problem for those with a pretty easy gag reflex.

Walker: "I think by any objective observer would tell you, you talk to employers around the state, that between the protests and the recalls and the next wave of recalls, that kind of froze out businesses in the state."

Yes, business held their collective breath, stopped and waited till they knew Scott Walker would be back. God our world revolves around this pathetic self-aggrandized sociopath. And are business leaders really "objective observers?" Walker still doesn't see how they're playing him:



Here's Walker's incredibly delusional comment again:



Of course that doesn't explain away the projected deficits. Funny thing, unlike the projected surpluses, "projected" deficits can't be taken seriously. The numbers don't lie though, like supply side tax cutting ideologues. It's so much easier to freeload off the investment made by previous generations.

From State Sen. Jennifer Shilling's press release:

After state agencies submitted their 2015-17 budget requests this week, Gov. Walker’s budget deficit is now projected at nearly $3 billion.* The overall budget deficit could exceed $4 billion once state transportation, school funding and other agency budget figures are released.

Here are the numbers with links.

BUDGET CRISIS BY THE NUMBERS
Current Fiscal Year (FY15) Budget Deficit:
$396 million (LFB memo 9.8.14)

Projected 2015-17 State Budget Deficit numbers:
$1.8 billion structural deficit (LFB memo 9.8.14)
$1.1 billion in new spending requests (DOA agency budget requests 9.15.14)
Estimated $680 million Transportation Fund deficit (Associated Press 9.15.14)
Estimated $568 million in K-12 Fair Funding costs (WI DPI 2013-15 budget request)

Thanks to Rock Netroots for digging up Shilling's great point by point look at Walker's failed policies. 

Wow! Republican State Sen. Scott Fitzgerald brags "Any shortfall created by a tax cut is fine."

Facing a possible $4 billion deficit, using the same kind of math Scott Walker has is using to bash former Gov. Jim Doyle and Mary Burke, Republicans are now starting to work into their rhetoric the benefits of deficits. Believe it or not.

The Mic 92.1's Devil's Advocates show got this "Dick Cheney" like response about deficits from Sen. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, and how they don't really matter much. Even worse, he was speaking for Scott Walker, who would say deficits caused by tax cuts are better than your everyday kind of deficits...basically.

Fitzgerald: "He's gonna say it's a deficit created by tax cuts, that's a much different situation than what we had...Any shortfall created by a tax cut is fine."

Bush and Cheney pushed this same supply side accounting logic, and how did that turn out? $7 trillion in additional debt and counting (war/veterans costs continue).



Fitzgerald's comment is at about the 30 minute mark at the Devil's Advocates podcast site.

Walker's Problem: Deficit is Growing while the economy is growing!!!

WPR reporter Shawn Johnson should be thanked for doing what others in the media have decided to glance over, and that is to put the disastrous new projected structural deficit in historical perspective:

“The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau calculates the state's structural deficit has grown to nearly $1.8 billion, the third-largest gap reported by the state in the past two decades. The structural deficit was larger when Walker took office and larger yet in 2003. Those shortfalls were driven by recessions, however, whereas this deficit has taken shape at a time when the economy was growing.”

I've also written how Republicans have an immense problem with something called defensive “projection;” it’s where people "defend themselves against unpleasant impulses by either denying (or knowing of) their existence in themselves, while attributing them to others."

Yes, I have a Scott Walker example of projection (audio below):

“These are the people that gave us a $3.6 billion budget deficit, I mean, this is selective amnesia on their part. The bottom line is we inherited something much, much greater than what we're talking about now.”

And as Shawn Johnson reported: 

“The structural deficit was larger when Walker took office and larger yet in 2003. Those shortfalls were driven by recessions, however, whereas this deficit has taken shape at a time when the economy was growing.”

Walker game plan for a possible Deficit? Walker is already running from a solution, and instead wants to hold onto those irresponsible tax cuts for dear life. It beats working:

Walker said he expected those revenues would pick up and brushed off criticism.

State Sen. Jennifer Shilling is asking Walker to show us some leadership:

"I think the governor should be truthful and forthcoming about how his administration would tackle these numbers..." 

Wisconsin Revenues Ratchet Downward...Forever? Republicans can actually benefit from their mistake, as usual, by challenging the possible incoming Democratic governor to “raise taxes” via the repeal of a few damaging corporate giveaways.

Another words, once taxes are cut, it would be political poison to repeal them. Checkmate. 

$1.8 billion structural deficit? Republicans excuses abound....

You would have thought the sky was falling the way Republicans have been complaining about the slow jobs and business recovery under the Obama administration. Add to that the non-participatory unemployed and you've got what Republicans call a failed policy.

But now that we have slower jobs and business growth in Wisconsin under Republican Scott Walker, including a growing deficit (unlike the declining U.S. deficit under Obama), we’re being told by the GOP that we’re moving forward and Democrats are whiners.

Here’s the reaction by Republicans over the news of a possible $1.8 billion structural deficit due to Scott Walker's election year tax cuts:

Senator Paul Farrow: “Contrary to what we will hear from Legislative Democrats, the sky is not falling. These projections by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau are not perfect calculations and should be treated as a learning opportunity."

Deficits are learning opportunities? Projections aren't perfect? Please. Republicans like Farrow continue to downplay their party’s Great Recession and the impact it had on state economy. Even worse, Farrow is wondering why the Democrats don’t help solve the state’s problems, even though they've been shut out of the process by our authoritarian winner-take-all Republican government:

“I find it disingenuous for the same Democrats who drove our state into a truly staggering $3.6 billion deficit … We are a long way from experiencing a full economic recovery; it would be nice to get some help from the other side instead of having them work against Wisconsin’s successes. I will continue to work with Governor Walker to pursue a balanced budget and will always stand-up for Wisconsin’s taxpayers while rooting for a Wisconsin recovery, never against one.”

See that, pointing out the problem is “rooting” against our state’s economy, a talking point you'll hear a lot of as the bad news trickles out. How many decades did we hear Republicans telling us how bad Wisconsin was for business? Guess that was a self fulfilling prophesy. Resistance is futile folks. There's more:

Senator Alberta Darling and Representative John Nygren: "Wisconsin does not have a deficit. Once again, Democrats continue to root against Wisconsin's success story. Democrats are using political math to deflect from the poor budgeting decisions they made in the past. Under Democratic leadership Wisconsin had a $3.6 billion deficit, 9.2% unemployment, while more than 133,000 jobs and 27,000 businesses left the state.”

Again, Republicans continue to blame the Great Recession on Democrats, especially Gov. Doyle and Mary Burke, without paying the political consequences for such an outrageous fiction.

Walker moves forward with Bigger Deficit. Says he has a proven track record! Ain't that the truth.

Remember that the deficit Scott Walker inherited was an estimate, and wasn't really that high? 

jsonline: The more than $3 billion projected budget shortfall that Walker inherited as governor represented the gap between the state's expected tax revenues over the next two years and what state agencies were asking to spend over that period. The gap worked out to about 10% of the overall budget in the state's main account.

Well, it looks like Walker is creating his own deficit, which tracks closely to Gov. Doyle shortfall. Bad timing too, since that was Walker’s big talking point in his reelection bid:

The expected shortfall for the next two-year state budget has risen to nearly $1.8 billion, or about half of what it was when Gov. Scott Walker took office in January 2011 … The latest estimates by the Legislature's non-partisan budget office show a gap once again opening in the 2015-'17 budget because of tax cuts enacted by Walker and lawmakers and lagging growth in other state taxes in recent months … jumped by more than $1.1 billion over the previous estimate of a $642 million gap released in May. The projected weakness in the state budget matters to ordinary people because it would make it harder for state leaders to increase spending on priorities such as schools or cut taxes further for state residents.

The GOP bubble will not be Broken: As usual, the casual lack of concern is supposed to make us all feel great:

We were warned in a simple cartoon!

Walker spokeswoman Laurel Patrick downplayed the report, saying the state could see revenues grow in future years and take new steps to control spending. "We have a proven track record of managing the taxpayers' money well.

No, Walker has a dis-proven policy track record now. Are they hallucinating or thinking they can fool voters into thinking the $1.1 billion shortfall is a good thing? Yes…hey, it's a prediction, right?

Rep. Robin Vos: “Once again Democrats are looking for dark clouds on a sunny day. No one can ignore the fact the state is headed in the right direction. Unemployment is down, more jobs are being created and new businesses are opening their doors. The state economy continues to grow stronger under Republican leadership.”

This is what Walker and Vos call “strong,” and “leadership.” Yes there is a whole different standard for Republicans, who are given years to make their magic work, and yet it doesn't, because they need more time.

But Burke, a Democrat and former Trek Bicycle executive, seized on the new projections. "Governor Walker's fiscally irresponsible approach and his failed stewardship of a lagging economy have resulted in a state budget picture that is a mess," she said in a statement. "I have spent my career balancing budgets and insisting on accountability; setting priorities and getting the biggest bang for the buck. Governor Walker has spent money we don't have. In the business world, if a CEO created this big of a financial mess, he would be fired."

Though not as high as when Walker came into office, the memo said that the projected shortfall is one of the biggest since 1997. Those figures were not adjusted for inflation.

Every Wisconsin Republican Congressmen Voted Yes to Increase Deficit $287 Billion in Ten Years.

It’s opposite day again for House Republicans, who want to increase deficits, not cut them. Roll Call:

BONUS DEPRECIATION MADE PERMANENT: The House sent the Senate a bill (HR 4718) to make “bonus depreciation” for businesses a permanent feature of the Internal Revenue Code. This would add $287 billion to federal deficits between fiscal 2014 and 2024, according to official projections. Bonus depreciation allows businesses to deduct 50 percent of the cost of qualified property in the year in which the item was bought. It applies to most types of tangible personal property and software and is in addition to regular depreciation allowances.

Voting yes to increase the nations deficit by adding another handout to corporations, permanently, adding $287 billion to national debt over 11 years: Paul Ryan, James Sensenbrenner, Tom Petri, Sean Duffy, Reid Ribble.

And you thought they wanted to cut spending and balance the budget? 

Walker borrows more while cutting taxes. What a plan.

Wisconsin Public Radio's Shawn Johnson is doing a three part series: "Walker's Promises: By the Numbers." In this first piece, spending seems to be one of Walker's biggest problems, and growing: 

Walker Veers from Promise Not To 'Spend More Than You Have’: Walker lived up to that in his first budget, according to Todd Berry with the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. But Berry said Walker's second budget is headed in a different direction starting with the next fiscal year. "We're going to spend, it looks like, more than we're going to bring in in revenue, and the reason simply is we have some big tax cuts," Berry said.

The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau projects that in year two of this budget, the state will spend $559 million more than it takes in. That number is just the general fund.  To really dig into this promise, people have to look at the transportation budget.

The trouble in Wisconsin is that borrowing keeps going up with no end in sight. Officials with the Fiscal Bureau said total state indebtedness is projected to grow by more than $1 billion under the governor's watch. 

Jon Peacock, who directs the Budget Project at the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, said continuing this idea is the opposite of what state officials should be doing. "At a time when the economy was doing well and coming out of a recession, that's the perfect time to reduce the amount of bonding, but instead, we've increased it," Peacock said. It's not that people don't know how to fix this, but Walker has shot down proposals to raise taxes or fees to pay for roads.