Lhc Acur I lark Cr'imcs May 8, 2013 Economists See Deficit Emphasis as Impeding Recovery President °bum cl SU id List v..trek that the only way to fix the economy was for both parties to sit down and say, "How are we going to make sure that we're reducing our deficit sensibly?' By JACKIE CALMES and JONATHAN WEISMAN WASHINGTON — The nation's unemployment rate would probably be nearly a point lower, roughly 6.5 percent, and economic growth almost two points higher this year if Washington had not cut spending and raised taxes as it has since 2011, according to private-sector and government economists. After two years in which President Obama and Republicans in Congress have fought to a draw over their clashing approaches to job creation and budget deficits, the consensus about the result is clear: Immediate deficit reduction is a drag on full economic recovery. Page I 1 of 4 EFTA01144460