$38 trillion debt and Hawley wants rebate checks funded by tariffs. Bad idea all around.

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$38 trillion. That is the mountain of debt the United States carries. Senator Josh Hawley proposes issuing rebate checks funded by tariffs. The idea sounds simple. Tariffs raise revenue but also push prices higher for consumers already squeezed by inflation. Instead of tackling unchecked spending or entitlement growth, this plan kicks the can down the road with a political gimmick. Ordinary Americans end up paying more while the national debt keeps growing. No quick fix exists here, only shifting costs and empty promises. Real fiscal discipline means facing hard truths, not chasing populist illusions.

Here are key quotes directly from the CNBC article:

  • Senator Josh Hawley said, “Americans deserve a tax rebate after four years of Biden policies that have devastated families’ savings and livelihoods.”

  • Former President Donald Trump stated, “We have so much money coming in, we’re thinking about a little rebate. But the big thing we want to do is pay down debt.”

  • Senator Rand Paul criticized the plan saying, “We’re gonna basically borrow money to send it to the American people? There is no rebate if there’s no money.”