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BumRushDaShow

(167,253 posts)
2. He tried to put it on the C.R. but that was a no-go
Tue Mar 25, 2025, 05:31 AM
Mar 2025

The problem for them is this - the tax cuts for the billionaires expires at the end of this calendar year.

Some want to make that "permanent" (although there is no such thing because a new Congress can repeal it if the votes are there). Others want to just "extend" it for another 5 or 10 years and go through the Wash. Rinse. Repeat (to not let it sunset).

However the CBO costing these options out show massive amounts of debt being added to do any of this because they are cutting the revenue. So they need to do massive spending cuts, including to "3rd rail" (Medicare/Medicaid, etc) programs to sort of minimize the revenue cut impact, but even that probably won't be enough.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143411849
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143423285

They can do a debt ceiling increase using the "reconciliation" budget process (which is a Senate thing that allows passage of specific types of legislation without the need for the 60 vote cloture requirement - i.e., only needs a simple majority). That is one of the 3 "eligible" subjects that can be addressed via that "reconciliation" vehicle. The other 2 are "taxes" (revenue), and "spending" (although that must be "budget neutral" ). The "taxes" type is where they want to extend the tax cuts.

The RESTRICTION for use of this process is that EACH type can only be used ONCE a fiscal year (although the 3 types can be offered in single bills or in some combo of 2 or all 3).

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