As congressional Republicans try to extend President Donald Trump's 2017 tax cuts, some are considering an unusual plan to make them permanent while avoiding the political pain of massive spending cuts to pay for them: Argue that they will not deepen the federal deficit.

Republicans readily admit the revenue loss from their tax proposals will be far larger than the spending cuts they’re envisioning.

The average borrower's monthly bill could swell to $288 from $95, according to an early estimate by the Institute for College Access & Success.