Congressional Observer
Aside from the cost of military actions against the terrorist factions following the September 11 attacks, the big question is, how the government is going

Aside from the cost of military actions against the terrorist factions following the September 11 attacks, the big question is, how the government is going to pay for everything else it wants to do.

There had been a $176 billion surplus projected for fiscal 2002, but that was before September 11. Congress quickly allocated $40 billion to deal with recovery, rebuilding and defense needs in addition to the $15 billion bailout package for the airlines. At that point, the Congressional Budget Office initially estimated the surplus would be reduced to between $40 and $60 billion.