U.S. posts $3 billion budget surplus for January (dollars, capital, family)

[HappyTexan]

We're still using the 2009 signed budget with continuing resolutions.

**oops..saw it was an omnibus spending bill, not really a budget.

[Finn_Jarber]

Originally Posted by Rick Roma

Can someone explain how you have a budget surplus when you don't have a budget?

It's the difference between the budget numbers appropriations bills aka "continuing resolution" and what was actually spent

If you can't have a surplus without a budget, then you can't have a deficit either, but we have been having deficits.

If you want to bicker over terms and definitions, you can open another thread about it.

[brentwoodgirl]

I love threads like this. So if I make $100,000 a year, budget to spend $150,000, and then end up "only" spending $140,000, I can call it a $10,000 surplus, right? Woohooo! Surplus!

[Finn_Jarber]

FOX Take on it

The U.S. budget had a surplus in January, with government coffers swelling to $3 billion, above expectations of a $2 billion deficit, Treasury Department data showed on Tuesday.

No specific reason was given for why Treasury's revenues exceeded its spending in January. But in its estimate last week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said the Treasury got an extra $9 billion in taxes after a payroll tax reduction expired on Jan. 1 following the last-minute "fiscal cliff" deal.

Read more: U.S. Government Logs $3B Surplus in January | Fox Business

[KStreetQB]

It's amazing to me that most of you are completely content not knowing what you are talking about... over and over and over again.

[Dane_in_LA]

Originally Posted by Rick Roma

Can someone explain how you have a budget surplus when you don't have a budget?

The same way you can have a deficit. Or are you going to argue that there's no deficit, either? No?

[Swingblade]

I want to see the year end numbers because that will tell the real story.

[Iamme73]

Originally Posted by Finn_Jarber

U.S. posts $3 billion budget surplus for January | Reuters

(Reuters) - The budget posted a surprise surplus in January for the first time in five years, as the Treasury likely benefited from a windfall when payroll tax cuts expired.

The budget registered a $3 billion surplus, the first time there had been a surplus in January since 2008, Treasury Department data showed on Tuesday. Economists had been looking for a $2 billion gap. The surplus compared with a $27 billion deficit in January 2012.

It appeared the Treasury got a boost from the expiration of a payroll tax reduction on January 1 following the last-minute "fiscal cliff" deal. In its estimate last week, the Congressional Budget Office said the Treasury got an extra $9 billion in taxes from the expiry.

The January surplus means the government's cumulative deficit for the fiscal year, which starts in October, is $290 billion, 17 percent lower than the comparable first four months of fiscal 2012.

Good news, conservatives won't acknowledge reality.

[texdav]

Originally Posted by Rick Roma

Can someone explain how you have a budget surplus when you don't have
a budget?

Its like all the Bush taxcuts called cuts when its for the so called rich and then increase when payroll holiday expires. Pure spin by use of words.

[dsjj251]

Originally Posted by Rick Roma

Can someone explain how you have a budget surplus when you don't have a budget?

We do have a budget.