结构性预算赤字在民主党总统执政期间（潜在GDP的1.5 % ） 也比共和党执政期间（2.2 % ） 小，尽管这并没有阻止共和党批评民主党支出过度。
The structural budget deficit has also been smaller under Democratic presidents (1.5% of potential GDP) than when Republicans have been in office (2.2%), though this has not stopped Republicans from criticizing Democrats for excessive spending.