The Senate is expected to vote on a Republican-backed budget resolution that advances President Donald Trump’s agenda through reconciliation as early as this week.

However, in a new blog post by Romina Boccia and Dominik Lett, economic scholars warn the plan “actively worsens our nation’s debt trajectory” and say, “Americans cannot afford for Congress to not only kick the fiscal can down the road, but worse, strap it to a rocket and blast it directly into a fiscal black hole.”

Director of Tax Policy Studies Adam Michel explains, “This framework doesn’t even bother to cut spending to match the new tax cuts, let alone begin to rationalize the growing gulf between revenues and outlays.”

Director of Health Policy Studies Michael F. Cannon says, “Both House and Senate Republicans seem content to keep forcing taxpayers to overpay for low-quality health care.” He explains that the Senate resolution “would rescue Joe Biden’s spending spree.”

Policy Analyst Tad DeHaven argues the resolution “is the latest evidence that Republicans’ talk about downsizing government and cutting spending to head off a debt crisis is all just talk.” He argues the proposal offers “no serious spending cuts and trillions more in debt.”

To fix the problem, Cato analysts say, “Congress must rein in spending and pair tax relief extensions with real fiscal discipline.”

To arrange an interview with one of our scholars, contact pr@​cato.​org.