Obama says bill that increases taxes by $41 for every $1 in spending cuts uses a 'balanced approach'

President Barack Obama has repeatedly said in recent months that deficit reduction must be achieved in a “balanced” way, meaning a combination of spending cuts and tax increases. Here he was just yesterday, calling for the Balanced Approach™ on Twitter:

"We've got to do this in a balanced and responsible way." —President Obama on fiscal cliff negotiations

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 31, 2012

Now the US Senate has passed a fiscal cliff bill that raises tax revenue by $41 for every dollar in spending cuts. Did Obama slam the bill for reducing the deficit in an unbalanced manner? No. He praised it and specifically cited its so-called “balance”:

MORE: Obama praises the "fiscal cliff" agreement reached by the Senate for taking a balanced approach: http://t.co/vqeluPaw -BW

— The Associated Press (@AP) January 1, 2013

So a 41:1 ratio is what Obama means by “balanced.” No surprise there. We are a little surprised, however, that so many Republican Senators seem to agree.

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US Senate passes bill to avert fiscal cliff; $41 in tax increases for every $1 in spending cuts; Conservatives say, ‘Thanks for the crap sandwich’