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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana, speaks at a news conference on the government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 9, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images)

Scalise is Right: No $2,000 Tariff Rebate Checks, Pay Down Debt Instead

By Randy DeSoto November 18, 2025 at 3:30am

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise argued persuasively that the best way to use the hundreds of billions of dollars coming in from tariff revenue is to reduce the federal budget deficit.

President Donald Trump supports the idea of sending $2,000 rebate checks to lower-income Americans and using whatever is left to pay down debt.

But as a reality check, the previous four years under the Biden administration saw the most deficit spending in U.S. history, at approximately $8 trillion.

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Tags:

Debt, National debt, Steve Scalise, The economy, Trade and tariffs

Randy DeSoto

Contributing Journalist

SummaryMore Biographical InformationRecent PostsContact

Randy DeSoto has written more than 3,000 articles for The Western Journal since he began with the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."

@RandyDeSoto

Randy DeSoto wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.

Birthplace

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Nationality

American

Honors/Awards

Graduated dean's list from West Point

Education

United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law

Books Written

We Hold These Truths

Professional Memberships

Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars