The cost of Sanders' agenda -- possibly $60 trillion -- would set a peacetime US record

CNN ^ | January 17, 2020 | Ronald Brownstein

[karpov]

While the new spending programs Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed in his presidential campaign would at least double federal spending over the next decade, he has provided little detail about how he would implement or finance such a massive increase.

The Vermont independent's agenda represents an expansion of government's cost and size unprecedented since World War II, according to estimates from his own website and projections by a wide variety of fiscal experts. Sanders' plan, though all of its costs cannot be precisely quantified, would increase government spending as a share of the economy far more than the New Deal under President Franklin Roosevelt, the Great Society under Lyndon Johnson or the agenda proposed by any recent Democratic presidential nominee, including liberal George McGovern in 1972, according to a historical analysis shared with CNN by Larry Summers, the former chief White House economic adviser for Barack Obama and treasury secretary for Bill Clinton. Sanders' plan would also increase the size of government far more than any modern Republican president, including Ronald Reagan, has sought to cut it, Summers' analysis concluded.

"On the spending side, ... this is far more radical than all previous presidencies, on either the right or the left," Summers said in an interview. "The Sanders spending increase is roughly 2.5 times the size of the New Deal and the estimated fiscal impact of George McGovern's campaign proposals. This is six times as large of a growth of government than any of the Ronald Reagan dismemberments. We are in a kind of new era of radical proposal."

Maya MacGuineas, president of the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonprofit group that advocates reducing federal deficits, also says Sanders' agenda would at least double federal spending.

[buffyt]

And California’s “high speed train” would probably double that, and Bernie doesn’t have any earthly realistic idea about EXPENSE/COST etc... so he would probably give the thieves in California gov. a pass to finish that train line... No matter the cost....

Socialism works until you run out of other people’s money.
Margaret Thatcher

[ClearCase_guy]

Oh, just give every man, woman and child a trillion dollars and call it a day.

[LoveMyFreedom]

I have a question for the RATS about health insurance. Is the Federal government employees, Senators, House Reps and State officials going to be under this plan? Bet the answer is NO.

[buffyt]

Bernie doesn’t have any earthly realistic idea about EXPENSE/COST
NOR does he care!
when our new litle 3rd granddaughter is old enough to pay for all this crap, HE WILL BE LONG DEAD!
My husband keeps wanting him to have another heart attack! That would put us all out of HIS misery!

[apillar]

None of it would actually make it through the Senate, heck there are even a handful of pro-Wall Street democrat Senators that wouldn't support any of it, but that doesn't mean Sanders still could do a lot of damage with the “pen and phone” (not to mention Judges and other appointments).

[buffyt]

Now I like that idea! I want my trillion, great idea! he he he clear case guy for president!

[Opinionated Blowhard]

LOL. The ONLY reason CNN is bringing this up is because their pet candidate is losing to Sanders. They couldn’t care less about the cost if their guy was proposing it. But hey, according to most Dems, a “millionaires tax” would pay for it all.

[albie]

Yep. He’d do this for selfish reasons and buy bigger, nicer houses. He might have 10 years left so live it up off the uninformed.

[allendale]

Soon the “Stop Bernie” movement within the MSM will become open and unrelenting. The hate Trumpers know that not only will a Bernie candidacy will guarantee Trump’s reelection but will cause the Democrats the loss of the House and grievous losses in the Senate. As Rush would say, these people are in a panic.

[PGalt]

DC Divide & Control POWER CENTER specialist, Bernie Bourgeois Socialist Sanders, has a plan for you. Even Marx (Communist Manifesto) hated your types old man. Uncle Joe would have put one in the back of your head, then kicked you into a shallow grave. Not enough Jimmie Hodgkinsons to FORCE your BS.

ESAD

[Leaning Right]

Folks, remember this is reliably liberal CNN. They’re not criticizing Bernie’s spending agenda. All liberals love to spend! They’re going after Bernie himself. Someone has given CNN their marching orders. Take Bernie out.

[LouAvul]

Sanders is an old marxist fool. The whole of the RAT party is foolish with no redeeming qualities...........whatsoever.

[bkopto]

Actually, look at the bright side. Spending 60 trillion will collapse the purchasing power of the dollar, thus collapsing the welfare-warfare state, and collapsing the infinitely corrupt US government.

Reset time.