The headline of a WSJ article on new budget estimates and proposals for boosting the economy told readers that: "deficit complicates push on jobs." It is not clear why. The main reason that the country has a large deficit is that we are suffering a severe recession. If we didn't have a severe recession, then we would not have a need for a "push on jobs." Saying that the deficit complicates the push on jobs is like saying that because of the heat, firefighters should not attempt to put out a fire. it makes no sense. The article also includes a quote from a spokesperson for House Minority Leader John Boehner accusing the Democrats of supporting a second (actually a third) stimulus. A stimulus is a measure that will boost the economy. It would have been helpful to note that the tax cut supported by the Republicans that is mentioned in the article is also stimulus, albeit not very effective stimulus.
--Dean Baker