federal budget deficit : NPR

President Obama holds a copy of "The New Economic Patriotism: A Plan for Jobs & Middle-Class Security," which outlines some of his agenda for a second term, during a rally in Richmond, Va., on Thursday. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

It's All Politics

In Search Of Obama's Second-Term Agenda

October 26, 2012 • The president has been relatively mum during the campaign about what he would do if given a second term. He outlined more specific ideas this week — but he hasn't explained how he would get those ideas through Congress.

The Two-Way

Congress Approves Budget Deal, Sends It To President

April 14, 2011 • Congress approved the $38 billion package of spending cuts. Now it goes to the White House for the president's signature.

It's All Politics

How Washington Turned $38 Billion Into $352 Million

April 14, 2011 • The shutdown showdown was avoided with a last-minute agreement of which it was said it cut $38 billion. But the Congressional Budget Office said the actual net savings will be a fraction of that amount, just $352 million because a lot of the money would have been spent in future years.

Obama Talks About Deficit, Debt Reduction

President Barack Obama speaks about fiscal policy at George Washington University on April 12, 2011 in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Obama Talks About Deficit, Debt Reduction

April 13, 2011 • President Obama delivered a much-anticipated address on his proposals for cutting the federal government's annual budget deficits and reducing the enormous, $14 trillion federal debt. Read through what he had to say.

President Obama's address

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Opinion

It's All Politics

Alan Simpson: Cut Entitlements, Defense; Not Aid To Poor

February 16, 2011 • Alan Simpson, the former Republican senator, said the real fiscal threats are entitlements and defense spending, which should be cut, not programs for low-income Americans. He singled out a Defense Department health insurance program that costs taxpayers $53 billion annually.

The Two-Way

Deficit Projections: See Them Grow; This Year's Now A Record $1.5 Trillion

January 26, 2011 • In the past year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office's forecast of the 2011 deficit has grown by about $500 billion.