Mights & Wills. . .

(Mights & Wills. . .)

Happy Vallentine's Day (who loves ya baby ?)

There is a dichotomy between what might happen and what will happen. Things that are only a possibility will have varying consequences but things that are more certain can be severe in the end. A couple of things come to mind in describing this relationship, the Trump tariffs and Congressional Republicans passing the President's Agenda.


The proposed tariffs and their reciprocal nature might cause inflation, at least in the short term. However, those countries that would be subject of these levies would be motivated to adjust their own trading relationship with the U.S. to be perhaps a leveler. President Trump had India's Prime Minister Modi to the White House and, in a news conference with the Indian leader there, claimed that India itself has large tariffs on American goods and Trump's response was that India would be a target of Trump's reciprocity.


A more serious situation is the mismatch on Capitol Hill between House Republicans, over the President's spending and tax cutting priorities. In a package that was passed out of the House Budget Committee. some four trillion in cuts and the extension of Trump's original tax cuts. The Senate, however has other priorities. Border security and defense are in the Senate version, deferring tax cuts to a "second" package, to which House Speaker Johnson has said is a "non-starter."


Why is the Senate differing from the House ? Senate Budget Chairman, Lindsey Graham (R-SC) main focus is on border security. With the open border policy from the last Administration, Graham's concern, not necessarily unfounded, is that some possible mass casualty terrorist event. It is true. Such an event might take place.


But if the Senate cannot follow the House in regard to cutting taxes, or is not able to do so in a timely manner, Republicans will lose the House in two years. How might a Legislator make the choice ? Considering the consequences of failure, what will happen in other words, it should be an easy pick.

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