But the low deficit means that they haven't had to make some of the toughest decisions.
"They know that deficits today mean higher taxes tomorrow."
Higher deficits mean higher interest rates, and that hurts the poor, too.
The immediate question in Texas is, what, if anything, the deficit means for the state's fiscal future.
A deficit of 15 points means a failing grade.
The state's $38 billion deficit means higher taxes, fewer public services or both.
The fiscal deficit means that we cannot deliver this vision by simply spending taxpayers' money.
But he warned that the deficits in next year's budget could mean there would be far less money for farm programs.
But its deficit could mean an end to its weekly publication next fall.
This democratic deficit has meant that many people in Germany have received far too little information about the advantages of the euro.