08.09.21

Notes on the Democrats’ Reckless Tax and Spend Spree: FY 2022 Budget Resolution

For the second time this year, the Democrat Majority is bypassing the Budget Committee to vote on a budget resolution. This time it is to allow for a $3.5 trillion spending spree. This plan, arriving just a few months after Democrats added $2 trillion to the debt by passing a liberal wish list without a single Republican vote, will unlock a massive expansion of the federal government and raise taxes on American families and businesses.

The Reckless Tax and Spend Plan (Table A) includes:

  • $4.2 trillion in new spending over 10 years:
  •          $3.5 trillion in new mandatory spending (details below in Table B)
  •          $263 billion in new discretionary spending, and
  •          $390 billion in increased interest on the debt.
  •  National debt soars to $40 trillion (119% of GDP) by 2031.
  • Total debt (subject to limit) soars to $45 trillion (134% of GDP) by 2031.
  • Nearly $400 billion in defense cuts compared to current law projections.
  • Deficits that average $1.6 trillion annually under the plan, reaching $2.2 trillion by 2031.
  • A pathway to trillions of dollars in new taxes. According to supporting documents provided by Chairman Sanders, the $3.5 trillion reckless tax and spend spree will be “fully offset.” Because the Finance Committee was given a broad reconciliation instruction that did not require or disclose a specific level of revenue, this can be accomplished entirely by raising $3.5 trillion in new taxes. There is no restriction on the amount of tax increases allowed under this budget resolution or through the fast-track reconciliation process.
  • Instructions to the following committees to increase spending and deficits:

SENATE COMMITTEE

$ BILLIONS

AGRICULTURE

135

BANKING

332

COMMERCE

83

ENR

198

EPW

67

HELP

726

HSGAC

37

INDIAN AFFAIRS

21

JUDICIARY

108

SMALL BUSINESS

25

VETERANS' AFFAIRS

18

TOTAL

1,750

 

  • The resolution includes an easy-to-reach instruction to the Finance Committee to decrease deficits by $1 billion over the next ten years.
  • A new emergency designation protocol for the Senate that cannot be challenged with a point of order. Inclusion of this new emergency designation on legislation would allow it to pass without facing the standard 60-vote point of order and would reduce the fiscal discipline imposed by all other points of order.
  • A non-enforceable messaging provision that claims to prevent raising taxes on people making less than $400,000.

Table A: 

Democrats' Reckless Tax and Spending Plan Toplines

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

$ Billions

Non-Interest Outlays

5,467

5,509

5,595

5,837

5,985

6,184

6,525

6,556

6,902

7,188

Interest Outlays

306

318

352

412

493

580

679

778

890

1,006

Revenues

4,390

4,597

4,671

4,734

4,984

5,253

5,396

5,572

5,754

5,957

Deficits

-1,383

-1,229

-1,276

-1,515

-1,494

-1,511

-1,809

-1,761

-2,038

-2,237

Debt Held by Public

24,622

25,826

27,153

28,678

30,219

31,776

33,737

35,521

37,692

39,987

Debt Subject to Limit

30,789

32,141

33,526

35,059

36,570

37,952

39,733

41,296

43,188

45,150

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

24,323

25,356

26,191

27,076

28,033

29,103

30,195

31,305

32,449

33,670

As a Share of GDP

Non-Interest Outlays

22%

22%

21%

22%

21%

21%

22%

21%

21%

21%

Interest Outlays

1%

1%

1%

2%

2%

2%

2%

2%

3%

3%

Revenues

18%

18%

18%

17%

18%

18%

18%

18%

18%

18%

Deficits

-6%

-5%

-5%

-6%

-5%

-5%

-6%

-6%

-6%

-7%

Debt Held by Public

101%

102%

104%

106%

108%

109%

112%

113%

116%

119%

Debt Subject to Limit

127%

127%

128%

129%

130%

130%

132%

132%

133%

134%

Notes: Data shows unified figures based on details provided by Senate Budget Committee Majority Staff.

Table B:

 

Democrats’ Reckless Spending and Tax Plan:

$3.5 Trillion Mandatory Spending Breakdown, By Function

2022-2031

Budget Function

$ Billions, Outlays

050

National Defense

0

150

International Affairs

0

250

Science

35

270

Energy

513

300

Natural Resources

168

350

Agriculture

2

370

Commerce and Housing Credits

40

400

Transportation

41

450

Community and Regional Develop.

11

500

Education and Social Services

450

550

Health

449

570

Medicare

380

600

Income Security

1,265

650

Social Security

0

700

Veterans

18

750

Administration of Justice

14

800

General Government

18

920

Allowances (Other)

105

TOTAL

3,508

 

Note: Changes shown relative to CBO July 2021 baseline. Discretionary and interest effects not shown.