What the Federal Budget Debate Did on Its Summer Vacation

• By Stan Collender
• Roll Call Contributing Writer
• Sept. 8, 2009, Midnight

The federal budget debate returned from its summer vacation this week to find that this year’s deficit will be a bit smaller, the longer-term deficit will be higher, reconciliation is a little more of an issue now than it was when Congress left town for the August recess, and some people are saying we need to start reducing the deficit immediately.