Republicans pointed out that the deficits envisioned in Mr. Clinton's budget would require the Treasury to borrow large amounts of money.

Big deficits require Government borrowing to finance them, and this pushes interest rates higher than they would otherwise be.

Mr. Issing said high deficits and other financial problems among European Union countries might require a delay in the plan for a single currency.

Repeated deficits and towering debt had required a $250 million state bailout and the creation of a state fiscal review board.

The officials said the deficit could require severe cuts in many programs and possibly the elimination of some.

These deficits require funding from other tax sources or borrowing.

Though all three men agree that the deficit requires early negotiations, no one committed to a date for a possible special legislative session before January.

But he, like Mr. Eisner, sees no need for the restraint that cutting deficits can require.

If they move ahead with an easy tax cut, they will have little incentive to tackle the tough choices that solving the future deficit will require.

The county's mounting deficits required a state bailout and the imposition of the oversight board.