Two powerful lame-duck senators, who both support the tax bill compromise set for a Senate vote Monday, told CNBC Monday, that reducing the deficit will come after the economy gets moving forward, even though the tax bill will add billions to the federal deficit.
“This is a two-step dance, because we’ve got to take steps to get the economy moving,” said Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), who has served on the deficit-reduction commission and is a ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. “In the long term is where the issue [deficit] is. That’s where the fiscal policy is such a disaster.”