Budget Office: Infrastructure Bill Would Add $256 Billion To Federal Deficit

By Newsmax
Posted on 08/06/21 | News Source: Newsmax

The bipartisan U.S. infrastructure bill would add $256 billion to the federal budget deficit over a decade, the Congressional Budget Office said Thursday, differing from lawmakers’ contention that the spending would be fully paid for by a smorgasbord of funding measures.

The CBO’s release of its so-called score of the $550 billion infrastructure bill is a much-anticipated milestone as senators seek to advance the legislation ahead of Congress’s August recess.

The infrastructure spending forms a key part of President Joe Biden’s economic policy and is expected to be followed by a $3.5 trillion, Democrats-only economic package that includes climate and health care initiatives.

The nonpartisan arm of the legislature estimated that the revenue provisions in the bill would generate close to $50 billion in funds over the decade through 2031.

The CBO’s scoring could cost some support among Republicans opposing deficit spending, although it isn’t expected to lose enough votes to bring down the bill. Senators have been anticipating that the CBO would not give them credit for perhaps as much as half of their so-called pay-fors.