“The $30.4 billion bill is $2.9 billion less than was appropriated for 2013. If my always-suspect English-major math is correct, that $2.9 billion represents a full 0.08 percent of 2012 federal outlays.”
$2.9 billion is 8.7% of $33.9 billion (the 2012 outlay based on 30.4 + 2.9).
So, yes, his English-major math IS suspect.
This may be a reasonable cut, but let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot by arguing that particular cuts are a hundred times less than they really are.
Sorry. Typo. Meant to type 33.3 billion not 33.9. Otherwise the math is right.
He means 0.08% of the full budget, not of the $33.3B.
$2.9B/0.0008 = $3.625 Trillion