FISCAL CLIFF

“(The current levels of federal deficits) are like a cancer, and they will destroy this country from within.”

“(Congress’) hesitation adds insult to injury to an economy already flirting with a stall rate.”

—Diane Swonk, chief economist of Mesirow

Financial, referring to the slow pace of economic growth so far this year, in a Sept. 12 Wall Street

Journal article —Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke at a Sept. 14 press conference, as quoted by Reuters news service —Erskine Bowles, chief of staff for former President Bill Clinton and chair of the

Simpson-Bowles Commission, as quoted in Real Estate Weekly

“We can lead, but we can’t lead by not making decisions.”

—Former Michigan Gov. John Engler, president of the Business Roundtable, about

”I don‘t think our tools are strong enough to offset the effects of a major fiscal shock.”

the fiscal cliff, as quoted in Money Morning

“This economy really doesn’t need another self-inflicted wound, and that’s what this would be.”

—Jared Bernstein, senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, about sequestration and the fiscal cliff, as quoted in Stateline

“I think as soon as this election’s over, the incentives for gridlock will go way down and the incentives for action will go way up.”