A Stubborn U.S. Budget
April 2010
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Though he stands by his vow to half the U.S. budget deficit by the end of his first term, Obama's proposed 2011 budget projects a $1.56 trillion deficit for fiscal year 2010. And as we explain at Kiplinger.com, that number isn't likely to take a plunge any time soon. With a majority portion of spending firmly earmarked for social entitlements like health care, pensions and unemployment benefits, there's only so much that can be cut. Military costs top the list of discretionary spending, but with two ongoing wars, that figure isn't as "discretionary" as it looks on paper. The below infographic takes a closer look at some of the components that make our 2011 $3.8 trillion budget so stubborn.


