It’s Congress that has the lack of integrity

The Congressional Budget Office is usually the final word in terms of accurately evaluating the cost or cost reduction of a piece of legislation. The CBO is staffed by seasoned professionals, but they are forced to work with the information given them by members of Congress eager to see the bill become law. This “information” will usually include certain assumptions that are impossible to prove or disprove.

The CBO is not allowed to question these assumptions, but only to present a fiscal evaluation that treat the assumptions as valid. The same bill, supported by a different set of assumptions, will naturally produce a different result. I do not question the integrity of the CBO. They have to play with the cards the dealer gives them. Lack of integrity is taken care of very nicely by Congress itself.

Gary Sargent

Cedar Rapids