How did Congress ADD BACK all the stuff they had cut, but didn't change the deficit calculations???

[Atman]

The ultimate smoke and mirrors. After the calculations had been done, when it appeared they might lose because of cutting mortgage deductions, health care deductions, child care credits, state tax credits...they put all this stuff back in to win votes, but the $1.5 TRILLION deficit calculation didn't change! They added back in hundreds of billions of dollars in tax credits, loopholes, deductions, you name it...but the budget score didn't change. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

Quick answer...it's not possible. We're being totally lied to once again.

[Hoyt]

1. I think they added back AMT to some extent, raised proposed corporate tax a bit, reduced years that

tax cut applied to individuals, didn't totally eliminate estate tax, etc., to supposedly keep the projected increase in the debt within the $1.5T threshold. They probably threw in a more positive outlook for increase in economy and tax revenues.

But, I'm like you, doesn't sound right to me. The problem is, as I understand it (which is murky) if the bill is projected to increase the debt by more than $1.5T, I think they automatically have to impose significant cuts in Medicare, etc. Of course, we know they are planning to come back later and impose cuts because of the increased debt that they created.

Every budget process I've ever seen -- whether government, for profit, not-for-profit -- pulled the same shenanigans.

Good question, that will never be answered by the right people.