Build Back Better plan estimated to add $367B to deficit over 10 years
Published Date: 11/18/2021
Source: CNBC Television
CNBC's Ylan Mui reports that the Congressional Budget Office estimates that President Biden's social spending plan would add $367 billion to the deficit over the next ten years. For access to live and exclusive video from CNBC subscribe to CNBC PRO: https://cnb.cx/2NGeIvi The House moved toward a vote on President Joe Biden’s social safety net and climate plan Friday morning after a key analysis said it would slightly add to budget deficits over a decade. Following the release of the Congressional Budget Office estimate, House Democrats teed up a final vote on the legislation Friday morning. They intended to pass the bill Thursday night, but delayed the vote shortly before 12:30 a.m. ET on Friday as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy neared the four-hour mark of rambling remarks in which he not only criticized the spending bill but also most aspects of the Democratic-led government in Washington this year. A handful of centrist House Democrats wanted to see the nonpartisan CBO’s projection of how the Build Back Better Act would affect long-term deficits before they voted for the plan. The $1.7 trillion bill would increase the budget deficit by $367 billion over the years 2022 to 2031, according to the CBO. The topline figure does not include estimates for revenue raised by increased IRS enforcement of tax laws. The Treasury Department has contended the provision will generate another $400 billion and pay for the plan. The CBO estimated it would lead to only $127 billion more in net revenue, which would leave the bill’s spending roughly $250 billion short of being fully offset. That would put it approximately in line with the CBO’s estimated deficit impact for the bipartisan infrastructure law Biden signed earlier this week with the support of Republicans and centrist Democrats alike. The legislation aims to make child care more affordable, extend the enhanced child tax credit for a year, create universal pre-K, speed up the transition to green energy and expand Medicare and Medicaid. At least one part of the House plan — four weeks of paid leave for most Americans — could get cut once the bill goes to the Senate. Along with the bipartisan infrastructure law signed this week, the package makes up the core of Biden’s economic agenda. The budget estimate assuaged the concerns of at least two of the five Democratic holdouts: Reps. Stephanie Murphy of Florida and Kurt Schrader of Oregon. At least one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, will vote against the bill, the Bangor Daily News reported. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can lose only three votes and pass the legislation. If Democratic leaders can prevent enough defections to pass the bill, it will mark a breakthrough for the party in a months long slog to pass what it views as transformational investments. For comparison, the CBO projected the bipartisan infrastructure package backed by nearly all House Democrats and 13 Republicans would add $256 billion to deficits over a decade. The agency estimated the 2017 Republican tax law signed by then-President Donald Trump — one of the last huge bills pushed through Congress that was not an emergency coronavirus aid plan — would add nearly $1.5 trillion to deficits over 10 years. If the House passes the bill this week, the Senate aims to approve it before Christmas, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. If the Senate makes changes to the legislation, it would have to go back to the House for another vote. Tweaks in the Senate — which could include scrapping a paid leave program or revising a proposal to lift the cap on state and local tax deductions — could change the deficits effects by tens of billions of dollars. » Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision » Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC » Subscribe to CNBC Classic: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCclassic Turn to CNBC TV for the latest stock market news and analysis. From market futures to live price updates CNBC is the leader in business news worldwide. The News with Shepard Smith is CNBC’s daily news podcast providing deep, non-partisan coverage and perspective on the day’s most important stories. Available to listen by 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT daily beginning September 30: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/29/the-news-with-shepard-smith-podcast.html?__source=youtube%7Cshepsmith%7Cpodcast Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: http://www.cnbc.com/ Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC Follow CNBC News on Facebook: https://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC Follow CNBC News on Twitter: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC Follow CNBC News on Instagram: https://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-credit-cards/ #CNBC #CNBCTV