Don't Fall for Bad Math

CBO out with its score of the Big, Beautiful, Budget-Buster: sees it raising US deficit by $2.4 trillion over 10 years, almost identical to what CRFB said ($2.3 trillion). This is mostly due to $3.7TN in lower tax revenues, offset by $1.25TN in lower spending pic.twitter.com/4OoxaBJjEH

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) June 4, 2025

One of the bigger points of confusion on the BBB is spending vs tax cuts.

The lefty CBO says extending the 2017 tax cuts (preventing their expiration) increases the deficit.

Some critics have seen this figure and claimed or implied the bill increases *spending.*

Even according…

— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) June 4, 2025

… to CBO, the bill cuts spending over $1.6 trillion.

So when a libertarian (eg Rand) attacks the “deficit” impact of the bill they are attacking the tax cut.

Of course, honestly accounted, extending current tax rates has zero deficit impact which is why the bill, because of its spending cuts, reduces the deficit.

A second major point of confusion is what’s actually in a reconciliation bill. It is not an appropriations bill, or a general budget bill. It provides no funding or authorization for 99%+ of the operations of government. It was written not by appropriators but some of the most conservative members of the House. It has not a single Democrat provision or vote.

The bill has three principal sections: tax cuts, welfare reform, immigration and border security. It is a dream bill.

Don't fall for bad math.

The CBO and other so-called “scorekeepers” missed big before—and they’re doing it again.

They predicted only 1.9% growth after the Trump tax cuts. Reality? We hit 3.4% by 2019. 📈

Now they're claiming the One Big Beautiful Bill will increase the… pic.twitter.com/PC0oglenUQ

— Abraham George 🇺🇸 (@abrahamgeorge) June 2, 2025

… the deficit… based on the same tired assumptions.

History proves them wrong. The One Big Beautiful Bill will supercharge growth, not stall it.

MYTHBUSTER: The One Big Beautiful Bill Cuts Spending, Deficit — and That’s a Fact https://t.co/Bx0H9PIDLO

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 4, 2025