Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo sparred with Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) over the cost of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act.
During her show Tuesday, Bartiromo argued, “Joe Biden’s spending spree is not over.”
She added, “They are continuing to push through — Democrats are scrambling to pass the massive social spending and tax package Build Back Better before Christmas. The [Congressional Budget Office] has come out with its score on this plan, estimating that this plan will cost $4.9 trillion.”
Bartiromo asked Dingell what she makes of the CBO score, noting they believe the plan is going to add $3 trillion to the deficit.
“I know they said it’s continuing to work to offset that cost so it’s not going to cost anything,” Dingell said.
She explained there are a lot of things included in the bill “that are going to help people get back to work.”
The Fox News anchor then went on to question Dingell about why Democrats will not just “be honest about the true cost of the bill.”
“I think the American people just want honesty. If it’s going to cost $5 trillion, say it. Don’t say it’s not going to cost anything,” Bartiromo said.
She continued, “Joe Biden continues to say it costs zero, it’s not gonna cost anything, right? So you want these programs to stay the term, 10 years, that’s why you’re negotiating so much.”
Bartiromo went on to suggest, “If you can’t raise taxes on everybody, you can’t pay for this bill.”
She asked Dingell, “Where are the offsets to pay for the $5 trillion?”
Dingell replied, “You do need the offsets but Maria you’re making the assumption that those offsets can only come in certain ways.”
The Democrat told Bartiromo “compromise isn’t a dirty word,” adding, “And that’s what’s happening this country. There are things that I don’t love in almost every bill.”
During a White House press briefing Monday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called the CBO score “fake,” as IJR reported.
She told Fox News’ Peter Doocy, “What you’re talking about here is a fake CBO score that is not based on the actual bill that anybody is voting on. This was a ask, request, by Senator Graham to score a bill that is not currently being debated.”
