Full CBO Scoring Crucial in Health Care Reform

J.D. Foster / September 21, 2009

The Senate Finance Committee will soon take up Chairman Baucus’ health care reform proposal for consideration and amendment. The initial proposal as outlined September 17 was incomplete in many respects and a detailed evaluation is impossible. There was enough detail to provide a meaningful initial reaction .

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scoring of Chairman Baucus’s proposal highlights a crucial shortcoming – it represents a massive expansion in the size of government. The first fiscal policy test of any bill ought not to be whether it increases the deficit, though this is important, but that the bill not increase the size of government. (more…)