Opposites

Two different stories on opposite pages in today's Wall Street Journal tell two different, indeed opposite, stories.

After Orszag, Red Ink and Hard Choices: The OMB director is resigning, and the deficit and national debt are being discussed in this story on page A4.

Mr. Orszag's decision to resign as director of the Office of Management and Budget comes as the Obama administration—and the Democratic Party—begin to confront disagreements between those who believe near-term deficit reduction poses too much risk to the fragile economic recovery and those, such as Mr. Orszag, who say the deficit itself may be a more profound economic threat. Behind that economic argument is a political one: The steps that might be taken to reduce red ink—such as tax increases or spending cuts to Medicare and other popular programs—will be politically perilous, especially given the magnitude needed to make any real impact.

The headline and subheading of a story on page A5 are: States Face New Pinch as Stimulus Ebbs. Tax Receipts Aren't Rebounding Quickly Enough to Offset Declining Federal Aid; Push for Additional Medicaid Help Stalls

States have long known stimulus funds sent their way early in the recession would taper off in the first half of 2011. But many hoped a rebound in tax receipts would close the gap.