U.S. on track to cut annual budget deficit
WASHINGTON – The U.S. government ran a monthly budget surplus in June, putting it on course to record the lowest annual deficit since 2008.
The Treasury Department said Friday that its June surplus totaled $71 billion, following a $130 billion deficit in May. The government also ran a surplus in June 2013.
For the first nine months of this budget year, the deficit totals $366 billion, down 28 percent from the same period in 2013.
The Congressional Budget Office is forecasting a deficit of $492 billion for the full budget year ending Sept. 30.
Biden urges governors to help ‘lead’ nation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vice President Joe Biden on Friday condemned the political gridlock crippling Washington, calling on Republican and Democratic governors alike to lead the nation “out of this mess” while insisting that Congress approve billions of dollars to repair the country’s aging infrastructure.
“The way things have gotten today, and I’m not singling out any party or any group of people the politics, the culture in Washington, it’s become too personal, it’s too corrosive,” Biden said during a meeting of the National Governors Association. “I think you’ve got to lead us out of this mess we’re in.”
Hagel says U.S. knows of aid going to Iraq
WASHINGTON – The U.S. knows Russia and Iran are providing fighter aircraft to help Iraq combat Islamic extremists, but Washington is not coordinating assistance with either Russia or Iran, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Friday.
Hagel was asked at a Pentagon news conference about reports that Iranian and Russian planes are flying combat missions over northern Iraq and why Washington is not seeking to coordinate with them.
“We are aware of the Iranian and Russian efforts to help the Iraqis, but we are not involved in coordinating any missions,” Hagel replied. He said the U.S. is assessing the condition of Iraqi security forces and providing advice, “and that’s what we will continue to do.”
Associated Press
