For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: 2009 deficit already at $957 billion.
The Treasury Department said Friday that the budget deficit increased by $192.3 billion in March, and is near $1 trillion just halfway through the budget year, as costs of the financial bailout and recession mount. Last month's deficit, a record for March, was significantly higher than the $150 billion that economists expected. The deficit already totals $956.8 billion for the first six months of the budget year, also a record for that period. The Obama administration projects the deficit for the entire year will hit $1.75 trillion.
What's really scary is there's plenty of TARP and stimulus money NOT YET SPENT. As such, what will this year's final deficit actually be?
