Fiscal Forecasting Quotes

We can’t even project [budget surpluses and deficits] accurately month-to-month, much less for an entire year.

One of the marks of our economic management is that we've always exceeded expectations.

I believe that a good portion will be in due time be returned, but I am certain that some of it will have to be placed on the profit and loss column of Uncle Sam's books. Let us understand that clearly now and not be deceived later. [He was right.]

Unfortunately, too often the media doesn't ask the simple question: Why did elected leaders wait until the 11th hour to address government funding we've known would expire for months, if not years?

I have learned, if you give a team a budget, then the team tries to maximise the budget so that they get the same next year.

We don't know what's around the corner - and we must do everything to ensure we get our country's debts down, building our resilience so we don't repeat the mistakes of the past.

Show me your budget and I’ll describe your strategy.

Let us act with our eyes open. We are going to have a deficit next fiscal year and the year after that.

A one-year budget doesn't mean the government won't last, and a two-year budget doesn't mean it will.

The Office for Budget Responsibility correctly stay out of the political debate and do not assess the long-term costs and benefits of E.U. membership.

A two-year budget is not an ideology.

Our ability to estimate our deficit 20 years out is nil. We should not twist our economy like a pretzel over such an projection…. Growth in the short run raises the level of long run potential.

You don't lock into a ten-year family budget. You take it a year at a time - maybe even six months at a time. And then if the income really comes in the way you hope it does, then you can make some of those expenditures that you've been waiting to make. We think that same principle should apply to the national family we call America.

You can save a lot of money when you have responsible and bold policies that are in line with our principles, and we are telling the truth to Canadians.

This independent report clearly indicates that while we may differ among ourselves in government about what to spend money on, we have one of the most reliable and non-political processes for agreeing on how much money there is. We don't play games with the numbers.