CBO says this plan actually costs 12 additional billion dollars. Seems you like additional debt. Not surprising.
Originally Posted by 1blackman1
Well, I have to give you credit for honesty. Most partisan Democrats would say Speaker Johnson's plan "costs" 26.8 billion, which is the amount of revenue the CBO estimates the Treasury would forgo if the IRS's budget were reduced by 14.4 billion. You correctly subtracted the 14.4 billion aid to Israel from the $26.8 billion.
So what kind of return is the government receiving on that $14.4 billion? Well, the CBO provided this year-by-year estimate of outlays and foregone revenues:
https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/202...p_Act_2024.pdf
I entered the numbers into an Excel spreadsheet, and the government's internal rate of return (IRR) on the 14.4 billion is 22%. The government gets back $1.86 (being 26.8/14.4) for every dollar it "invests" in the IRS. The 22% IRR a good return for a business. But not a great return. One of my old employers required an estimated 20% IRR on any projects we undertook.
But the investor here is the United States Government, and its business is taking money out of the pockets of its citizens and businesses. If I bought a gun and got a monopoly on extorting money I'd make a hell of a lot higher return on my investment than 22% a year. I'd make millions off that $800 handgun!
This is another illustration how inefficient our federal government is, and why more of the power of the purse and power to spend should be vested in state and local governments.
But congratulations, LustyLad and I both complimented you today!