[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 78 (Tuesday, June 16, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4570-H4571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CBO'S INDEPENDENCE THREATENED BY PARTISAN POLITICS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from

[[Page H4571]]

Texas (Mr. Bentsen) is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to point out a case of 
unfortunate and blatant hypocrisy on the part of the majority. The 
Congress created the Congressional Budget Office 23 years ago so that 
the House and Senate would have an impartial and independent source for 
budget forecast. Since its creation the Congress under both Republican 
and Democratic control and divided control between the House and Senate 
has respected the CBO's independence. In return for that independence 
CBO has served the Congress well by providing us with honest estimates 
of the budgetary effects of spending and taxing proposals.
  Today that independence is threatened by partisan politics. Just last 
week the gentleman from Georgia, Speaker Gingrich, and the Republican 
leadership threatened the CBO because their budget forecasts do not 
square with the irresponsible budget resolution passed by the House. 
Truth be known, Houdini could not create the magic budget forecast 
necessary to make this budget resolution work. In his letter to the CBO 
Speaker Gingrich and the House leadership wrote that ``CBO's low 
estimates have been consistently wrong and wrong by a country mile.''
  If the estimates were not changed, Congress then must review the 
structure and funding for the CBO in this appropriations cycle if CBO 
did not conform its estimates to the majority's budget resolution. The 
majority is seeking to abandon fiscal discipline by using ever larger 
surpluses to pay for tax cuts we cannot afford while making draconian 
cuts in nondefense discretionary spending and allowing the national 
debt to continue to grow, putting Social Security at peril. In fact, 
this bullying reminds me of the old adage, that, ``if you don't like 
the message, shoot the messenger.'' This is typically what dictators 
and strong men do when they take power. They terrorize those most 
likely to question their programs: professors, newspapers and religious 
leaders.
  But is it not ironic, 3 years ago the new Republican leadership 
demanded that the President agree to use CBO estimates to score his 
budget?

                              {time}  1245

  The White House, on the other hand, wanted to use the estimates of 
the Office of Management and Budget.
  The Speaker and the Republican leadership were so adamant about using 
the CBO, that they refused to pass appropriations bills, leading to 2 
government shutdowns. Instead of having an honest and straightforward 
accounting, the Republican leadership would rather threaten the CBO.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to read a few statements of what the Republican 
leaders said a few years ago in contrast to statements made last week.
  Last week Speaker Gingrich wrote, ``We are deeply concerned about the 
increasing evidence that the CBO is utterly unable to predict 
consistent and future revenues or even the fiscal year implications of 
changes in budget policy.''
  But on November 15, 1995, Speaker Gingrich demanded that the 
President ``agree to two principles, that the budget shall be balanced 
in 7 years and that the scoring will be honest numbers based on the 
Congressional Budget Office.''
  On November 20, 1995, the Committee on Rules Chairman, the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Solomon), said about balancing the budget with CBO 
scoring, ``We will do it within 7 years as estimated by the CBO. There 
is no wiggle room there. No smoke and mirrors. We will do it with 
realistic figures.''
  On that same day, the majority whip and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
DeLay) said the goal, ``Is to achieve a balanced budget no later than 
fiscal year 2002 as estimated by the CBO. Very real. Very meaningful.''
  Why is it that 3 years ago CBO estimates were, quote, ``honest,'' 
``realistic,'' ``meaningful,'' ``no smoke and mirrors,'' and today they 
are being attacked by the Republican leadership? Is it possible that 
the policies being put forth by the majority today are not honest, 
realistic, meaningful, and the budget numbers are fudged with blue 
smoke and mirrors?
  Mr. Speaker, this is more than a case of hypocrisy. This is about 
responsible governing and responsible policymaking at which the 
leadership has proven not very adept. Manipulating budgetary estimates 
will allow both parties to abandon fiscal discipline. Without 
maintaining a course of fiscal discipline, the Congress' hard work 
since 1990 will be compromised. Federal budget surpluses will be short-
lived and we will return to deficit spending and an increasing national 
debt.
  CBO keeps our policy proposals honest through rigorous analysis and 
scoring. For the sake of fiscal discipline and trying to reduce our 
enormous Federal debt, we should let the CBO do its work without 
interference from partisan politics.

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