Progress: Budget deficit slightly less terrible than expected; Thank the sequester?

Brett T. | 5:45 PM on July 08, 2013

Whoever runs the White House Twitter account must have had a restful holiday. The Twitter feed is alive with the administration’s comedy stylings today, from the announcement of the administration’s fresh new vision for a smarter, more efficient government to this bit of good news: the nation’s budget deficit is projected to be $200 billion less than projected. According to a new report from the Office of Management and Budget, America is looking at a revised deficit of only $759 billion.

In a press release, OMB director Sylvia Mathews Burwell took a swipe at the “economically damaging” sequester, which the AP credits with making the drop in the projected deficit possible, while describing the sequester as the “automatic, across-the-board spending cuts that the White House had hoped to avert” — and which spokesman Jay Carney did his best to pin on the GOP.

BREAKING: White House says budget deficit for current fiscal year estimated to shrink to $759B -RJJ

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 8, 2013

https://twitter.com/jeffemanuel/status/354350717756125187

@whitehouse So, the Sequester is working?

— Soquel by the Creek (@SoquelCreek) July 8, 2013

So, the good news is that those GOP-driven cuts the White House opposed have helped reduce the deficit. Progress!

@whitehouse So, once more you're increasing less than the previous year & claiming a reduction! #TruthMatters #EconomicIlliterate #tcot #TEA

— HisStoryUn (@HisStoryUn) July 8, 2013

https://twitter.com/davidjmolnar/status/354345180666667009