Unfortunately the reality is that he does understand how it works, and there are 400+ who do not. Compound interest mathematics are beyond most.
It will not end well.
Bingo.
He is an MIT trained engineer. He knows the math.
The rest are immersed in problems they understand, politics.
There is no merit, none whatsoever, in legislation carefully crafted to pass both houses that worsens the problem. If your choice is worsen the problem for later vs face a less severe problem now, and “later” is defined as September, then now is the right time.