GOP Tax Bill’s ‘Magic Math’ Accounting Maneuver: Explained

Democrats call it “magic math.” Republicans say they aren’t doing “anything sneaky.”

Senate Republicans’ use of a controversial revenue-estimating method for their tax bill could have far-reaching implications, potentially making it easier for lawmakers in both parties to enact broad tax-and-spending changes in the future.

GOP senators voted Monday in favor of a plan to use the “current policy” scoring method, counting the extension of President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts as essentially costing nothing. The vote provided Republicans a workaround to rules designed to limit the perceived fiscal impact of legislation being passed through the fast-track reconciliation process.

The ...