CNN's Jake Tapper squared off against Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) on Wednesday over the impact of President Donald Trump's domestic spending bill on the federal deficit.
Multiple economic analyses of the bill show the bill will add between $3 trillion and $4 trillion to the debt over the next five years. However, the GOP is claiming that the bill will reduce the deficit using what's known as a "dynamic score," a method that also includes future changes to the economy or public policy.
"This bill will add to the debt, less than it would perhaps, but that doesn't take into account the tax cuts expiring. If this bill passes, what will the debt be in 10 years, do you know?" Tapper asked Barr.
Barr replied by explaining that the United States didn't get into its debt problems "overnight."
"We got to $36 trillion over time. It's not going to be overnight to solve it," Barr said. "But I can tell you one thing, Jake. We are never going to balance the budget if we don't grow this economy."
Tapper then asked whether Barr knew how much more debt would be generated by Trump's budget bill.
"I guess you know the answer to this question that in 20 years there will be $20 trillion more debt with this bill," Tapper said.
"No, I disagree with that assessment," Barr shot back. "It depends on a lot of policies."
