I keep hearing that if this horrific budget bill passes it'll make the tax cuts from Drumps last term permanent...

[Jmb 4 Harris-Walz]

Disclosure: I’ll admit that I’m a relative newbie to the in depth political discussions that abound on this forum. For the majority of my life I tuned into politics during presidential election years and tuned out the rest of the time. Until Drump!

Having disclosed the above, my ignorance will probably show with the following question…

How is it that these tax cuts can become permanent if the budget bill passes? It seems as though presidents contradict what the other party’s prior president does as soon as they can. After the past 10-15 years it doesn’t seem reasonable, let alone possible, for anything to be permanent in the political arena.

Please, oh wise DUers, explain the unexplainable so an ignorant dummy in politics, like me, can understand it.

I’d appreciate it. Thanks!

[Buns_of_Fire]

1. "Permanent," in this sense, means there's no "sunset" provision.

They don't have a built-in expiration date. What congress giveth in this session, the next congress can taketh away, and vice versa.

[Jmb 4 Harris-Walz]

2. Thank you! I'm relieved all these disgusting cuts can be abolished!

[no_hypocrisy]

3. I believe to eliminate the "permanent" tax cuts in the future,

you'd need a majority of Democrats in the House and a 60 vote majority in the Senate. I'm uncertain whether the repeal could be accomplished via a future Reconciliation Budget Bill.

[purple_haze]

4. Nothing in government is permanent

[karynnj]

5. Here:s an explanation of what it means to make permanent

I'm 2017, the bill that passed changed the tax rates only for a period of time which is expiring
This was done because those tax rates were unsustainable with the cost of government

Forward to now, the Republicans are trying to remove the time limit when the tax cuts automatically end. Their bill does this using 2 methods. The first is a giant package of cuts to essential programs. The second is a trick that says they can compare the cost not to what happens if the bill is not passed but the current fiscal situation. Ie they don't have to account for all future years tax collection reduction by not ending the tax cuts.

It is very scary that even with all the painful cuts that will throw many off healthcare, reduce food and heating assistance, cut support of research and cut federal grants for college the deficit is larger than if we allow the tax cuts to expire AS THE 2017 BILL PROPOSED.

In 2017, those tax cuts were seen as unsustainable and they were. Making them permanent means every years budget more difficult constantly refusing what the Republicans will say we can afford. IMO this leads to a country that resembles a third world nation.

As to permanent, you are correct that a future President and Congress could raise taxes. However, tax increases have always been difficult to pass.

[dwayneb]

6. Good explanation of the increase in National Debt of $3.3 TRILLION

You have to go back to Bill Clinton's balanced budget in the 1990's to find anything rational in a budget bill.