WASHINGTON — Last week, Republicans passed a massive package of tax cuts that is projected to explode the national debt by $4 trillion to $6 trillion over the next decade.
This week, they went back to complaining about deficits almost as if nothing had happened.
Senate Republican leaders are hoping to pass a Trump administration rescission bill next week clawing back $9.4 billion in previously enacted federal funding for humanitarian aid, international development, public health and public broadcasting, including funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service. If approved, it would codify some cuts made unilaterally by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year.
“If, after all the tough talk by we Republicans in the Senate about the need to reduce spending, if we can’t agree to reduce $9 billion worth of spending porn, then we all ought to go buy paper bags and put them over our heads,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told reporters on Capitol Hill, urging some of his skeptical colleagues to rally behind the legislation.
“The U.S. just passed $37 trillion in national debt and is already well on its way to $38 trillion,” Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) added in a social media post. “Yet, the Senate is having issues passing a measly $9.4 billion in rescissions? No wonder we are where we are today.”
