3 of the 4 GOP Candidates Proposed Budget Plans Will Increase Debt More Than Obama's Plan

President Obama is roundly criticized by Republicans for running up the nation's debt. But if a Republican takes the White House, the debt will keep climbing — and perhaps even faster than under Obama's proposed policies, a budget watchdog group said.

GOP presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich andRick Santorum are touting policies that would push the debt beyond current projections — largely because their proposed tax cuts would outweigh spending cuts. Only Ron Paul's plans would begin to sharply decrease the debt, according to a report Thursday from the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

The analysis shows how difficult it will be for any president to change the trajectory of the debt. And it underscores the need for bipartisan efforts to increase revenue and curb spending, particularly as an aging population is about to drastically drive up Medicare costs, the group said.

"I don't think cutting revenues further is the responsible thing to do — and they all do it," said Alice Rivlin, referring to the Republican candidates. Rivlin, the founding director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, is a director of the budget watchdog group that released the analysis.

"We're not going to be able to absorb this tsunami of seniors and their need for healthcare with the revenue we have," she said.

Obama's proposals also would push debt above what budget experts say is sustainable.