Economists See Deficit Emphasis as Impeding Recovery (JACKIE CALMES and JONATHAN WEISMAN, 5/09/13, NY Times)

That period roughly coincides with the time that Mr. Obama and Congressional Republicans have shared governance since Republicans took control of the House in 2011, promising an immediate $100 billion in spending cuts. Republicans did not get that much then, but the series of budget compromises with the president since -- while not so great as they wanted -- will soon reduce annual discretionary spending for domestic and military programs to the lowest level in half a century.