Sorry Paul Ryan, but this agreement is a tax hike (not to mention bad policy and bad politics)

Conservatives in Congress have a funny way of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. A recent budget agreement (not voted on by Congress yet) is the latest such example. For starters, it increases fees (taxes) on flying and, rather than any of those funds being dedicated to improving “service” by TSA at our airports, the money is simply going to the overall budget. It is thus a tax hike.

Arguably worse is the fact that with modest sequestration “cuts” in place that at least slowed the growth of federal spending, Congressional leaders including supposed fiscal hawk Paul Ryan are going along with higher spending. As Tim Phillips of Americans for Prosperity has said, this deal is both bad politics and bad policy.” I couldn’t agree more.