I fully agree with you that CBO estimates too high. Likely the 4 trillion in “lost revenue” is in part or entirely mitigated by greater productivity. It’s even possible that govt tax revenues actually go up by extending tax cuts depending on where we are on the Laffer Curve. And even if govt revenues do actually go down by some amount like 1-2tn, private savings will go up from the tax cuts and that ultimately makes the country richer even if the govt holds less of that wealth. The disagreement right now is that the purists think we should do even more to cut spending while the pragmatists think that we barely have enough votes as it is and that something is better than nothing. So I’m fine to just pass this bill as it currently is if that’s the best we can do for now. But, at some point soon, we have to deal with this discretionary spending. If it has to be a different bill per senate rules, then let’s do another bill. It depends on what kind of opportunity we have with this new administration. Is this the second founding of America or is this administration an incrementalist win against the unceasing long-term tide of bureaucratic expansion and spending. I still believe it is the former. And to be realistic, I think it is very possible to cut another $500bn per year from spending permanently. Maybe $1tn or $2tn per year was too difficult initially but we can ladder up to that. In either case, much love to you @StephenM. You are still one of my favorite people in the admin.