As Debate on Tax Bill Continues, Tester Remains Concerned About National Debt

Senator Offers Amendment to Eliminate Deficit Spending

(U.S. Senate)—As the debate on a tax bill in the U.S. Senate extends into Friday, U.S. Senator Jon Tester remains concerned about the proposal’s impact on the national debt and future generations:

“I can’t support the Senate bill as it stands today because adding over a trillion dollars to the deficit is irresponsible to future generations. It is my hope that we can work together on a bipartisan solution that prioritizes hard-working Montanans, provides relief to small businesses, and doesn’t saddle our kids and grandkids with more crushing debt.”

The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation today announced that the current version of the Senate tax bill would add $1 trillion to the national deficit even after any potential resulting economic growth is accounted for. The Joint Committee on Taxation report directly contradicts the claim that the tax bill will pay for itself.

During the floor debate Thursday evening, Tester sponsored an amendment that would have sent the bill back to the Senate Finance Committee and require that it be re-written to ensure that it doesn’t add to the deficit over the next 10 years. Tester’s amendment was opposed 52-48 on a party line vote.

Debate on the bill is scheduled to resume at 9:00 a.m. MDT on Friday.