The debate over the Big, Beautiful Bill went next-level last week when Elon Musk sent out a series of rage posts on X targeting President Trump that were more personal than substantive. But for all the wailing and gnashing of teeth about the bill from the likes of Elon, Rand Paul, Thomas Massie – even Andy Biggs, who felt the need to commiserate with Rocket Boy about voting for it – there really is no debate. Senate Republicans get to pass this bill. That’s right, and for the pleasure of getting to pass it, they can also feel a certain amount of pride in codifying Trump’s campaign promises, a concept which is in short supply these days. Most politicians will lie to get elected. Not Trump. He actually fully intends to keep his promises, which makes him one of the most honorable people in the public arena.
But let me explain why Republicans should be eager to pass this bill: their own self-preservation, which is one of the most motivating forces for the overwhelming majority of them. The Big, Beautiful Bill makes the Trump tax cuts permanent. That alone, right there, should be more than enough incentive to pass the bill, because if they don’t, Republicans will trigger upwards of a 60% tax increase, and, according to Russ Vought, head of the Office of Management and Budget, also trigger a recession. Now I’ve been in D.C. for 25 years, with a dad who served in Congress for a decade. I’ve seen Republicans in D.C. up close for many years, and I’ve reached the conclusion that many of them are intellectually impaired and will go out of their way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But not passing this bill and raising taxes and triggering a recession, going into a midterm year? That would be viciously stupid.
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