[Huck]

So far it looks like a decrease this year. The chart is intended to address the trend. The chart shows an expected lowering of the deficit (not sure why) followed by more increase. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[tanknetter]

The chart shows an expected lowering of the deficit (not sure why) followed by more increase.

The reason is pretty straightforward: the CBO's projections are based partly on their economic growth estimates.

I can'get to the cbo.gov site right now (getting timeouts), but the last time I argued this point I recall learning that the CBO had lowballed its economic growth estimates ... the estimates were somewhere down aroung 2.5-2.7%, rather than the 3%+ that we are currently seeing.

To be blunt, the CBO didn't really consider that the tax cuts would act to increase revenue by spurring economic growth. At least not to the extent that we are now seeing them do.