The ambitions of progressives in Congress to dramatically grow the federal government may be running into a reality check. In a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced his opposition to Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) budget blowout. After pointing out that Congress has already spent more than $5 trillion on COVID-19 and that the nation’s debt is nearing $29 trillion, Manchin writes:
“Now Democratic congressional leaders propose to pass the largest single spending bill in history with no regard to rising inflation, crippling debt or the inevitability of future crises. Ignoring the fiscal consequences of our policy choices will create a disastrous future for the next generation of Americans.”While Manchin’s op-ed has attracted much attention, an important report just issued by the trustees of the Medicare program should throw more cold water on the Democrats’ spending plans, particularly regarding Medicare.
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