Demanded Budget Neutrality, Then Quietly Supported Massive Deficits
What Byron said then
“As a fiscal conservative, I am disturbed by the federal government allowing more than 26 trillion dollars of unfunded liabilities... I will work to sponsor and pass a Balanced Budget Amendment.”
2023
What he says now
“Expressed desire for budget neutrality on Trump's reconciliation package but 'stopped short of throwing down a red line'... ultimately supported $3.8+ trillion tax cut extension with no spending offsets.”
2025
Context
Donalds publicly champions balanced budgets and fiscal conservatism. Yet when Trump's massive reconciliation package came forward in 2025, he abandoned deficit concerns rather than risk Trump's political backlash. He went from 'balanced budget amendment' rhetoric to rubber-stamping policies that exploded deficits.
The bottom line
Fiscal conservatism conveniently disappears when it conflicts with party loyalty to Trump