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Pa. Outgoing Auditor General Has Choice Words About U.S. Debt

By Tony Romeo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Outgoing state auditor general Jack Wagner has been sounding the alarm over Pennsylvania's debt, but he may be even more concerned about the nation's debt.

Wagner, who is in this last full day as Pennsylvania's auditor general, has spent the last few years warning about the danger of mounting debt at the turnpike. At a press conference to discuss turnpike issues once again last week, Wagner was asked to weigh in on the country's debt situation.

"The national debt is horrendous… it's embarrassing," he said.

Wagner, a Democrat, says there needs to be more revenue to fix the national budget, but that borrowing and spending must also be addressed.

"There has to be cuts at the federal level – in all areas – and every American citizen knows that," he said.

And Wagner believes the Congressional Budget Office is not good enough as a watchdog. He believes the federal government also needs an independent auditor general or a position similar to it.

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