Richard Berreths Aug. 1 Brookings Register Letter to the Editor included criticism of my support for three major congressional acts approved during the Biden administration because the acts contributed to inflation and added to the national debt. Both are fair criticisms but more clarity is needed.
The increase in inflation during the Biden years is traceable to four causes including a surge of consumer demand after being restrained during the pandemic, serious snags in the supply chain making it impossible to increase production to keep up with demand, the stimulus packages approved by Congress and corporate greed or excessive profiteering (think eggs). In brief more consumer, business and government spending without an accompanying increase in supply coupled with greed resulted in higher prices.
The deficit spending traceable to the three Biden Administration Acts beingdisputed was American Rescue Plan ($2.06 trillion deficit), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ($440 billion deficit) and Inflation Reduction Act ($250 billion deficit reduction). Total net new 10-year debt approved by President Biden was $4.7 trillion. Trumps first administration (2017-2021) added a net $7.8 trillion to the national debt. Further, an additional $3.4 trillion increase in the national debt is projected by the Congressional Budget Office for the One Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) alone with 3 1/2 of the Trump Administration remaining. Other leading economists estimate the addition to our national debt from just BBB could run as high as $5 trillion.
We are reminded that the Biden legislation extended health care to tens of millions additional Americans, increased food and nutrition assistances for millions of Americans, built highways, bridges, airports, water systems, and communication networks, provided credit incentives to combat climate change and provided cash payments to US tax payers. BBB will add $170 billion to Homeland Security spending including $52 billion for Trumps wall, $45 billion for new detention centers and $30 billion for ICE to hire 10,000 new ICE agents. In addition, the Department of Defense will receive an additional $156 billion leading to a $1 trillion defense budget that will include Trumps Golden Dome to complement his border wall.
Of course, the biggest expense of BBB will be the continued tax reductions for the wealthiest among us at the expense of the least wealthy among us.
Government taxing and spending policies reflect the current priorities of those in positions of power. BBB reflects one set of priorities while the Biden Administration acts reflected a different set of priorities. Both administrations and every administration since President Clinton have incurred deficit budgets adding to the total national debt. Neither Democrats nor Republicans can claim to be fiscally responsible if that means spending within the parameters of your tax revenues. Neither party has shown a willingness or courage to make the unpopular taxing and spending decisions necessary to balance budgets and reduce the national debt during a U.S, peacetime era.
Mr. Berreth also chose to belittle SDSU political science majors. He is reminded that Sen. Tom Daschle, former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, former Congresswoman, Governor and current Secretary of DHS Krist Noem, Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuisen, current GOP SD House leader Scott Odenbach, former SD Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson and current SD Supreme Court Associate Justice Mark Salter are SDSU political science graduates. In addition, our graduates occupy leading positions in law, business, industry, education, military and public civil service. Political Science graduates are found in South Dakota and elsewhere working, raising families and contributing to the strength of their communities. Mr. Berreth might also review the listing of SDSU Distinguished Alumni and current and former members of the SDSU Foundation Council of Trustees. Political science graduates are well represented. All SDSU major programs and their graduates have worth.
That is what makes for a great university.
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