Democrats Need Spending Priorities, Not Fiscal Evasions
It’s wrong to argue for transforming the country unless you’re prepared to be transparent about what it will cost.
You’ll be amazed by what he can buy for zero dollars.
Photographer: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
As they prepare to spend $1.2 trillion on a bipartisan infrastructure deal, along with a vastly larger sum on a party-line social-policy bill, Democrats might be expected to defend their ambitions on the merits. Instead, progressive leaders seem to be focused on fiscal gimmickry.
Their goal is to advance a $3.5 trillion initiative known as Build Back Better. With moderates balking at the bill’s scope and cost, efforts are underway to deliver a slimmer version that might command broader support. Unfortunately, these seem to be concentrating not on setting priorities, getting value for money, and presenting intelligible choices to the country, but on creative accounting.