US administration?s interest payment on debts to touch $302bn in 2009

The Peninsula On-line: Qatar's leading English Daily

"By the Office of Management and Budget?s estimate, net interest outlays will hit $292bn in 2009 ? an amount larger than the government?s entire operating deficit in 1992.

The Congressional Budget Office?s projections are even grimmer, pegging net interest at $302bn in 2009 and $348bn in 2014...'It?s a bad sign,' said Bob Bixby, executive director of the bipartisan Concord Coalition, which says the higher debt service is another indication of the deterioration of the long-term budget situation."