House GOP's New Rule Allows Republicans to Hide Tax Cuts

[Judi Lynn]

House GOP's New Rule Allows Republicans to Hide Tax Cuts
Friday, 09 January 2015 09:23
By Crystal Shepeard, Care2 | Report

On Tuesday, the 114th Congress’ term officially began with Republicans holding the majority in both chambers for the first time in eight years. After the photo ops of swearing in ceremonies with the Vice President and congressional members’ families, Congress wasted no time to get to work (something that wasn’t done much in the previous session). Most of the day was about finding co-sponsors and votes for bills that would make great press releases for constituents back home. In the House of Representatives, however, a very important new rule was passed that will change how legislation is evaluated.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provides nonpartisan economic analysis on the costs for any budgets or legislation proposed by Congress. When changes in taxation are involved, the nonpartisan Joint Committee On Taxation (JCT) issues reports regarding the revenue side. These two departments work together to create projections highlighting how a change in current policy would play out in certain scenarios.

The rule passed along a straight party-line vote in the House on Tuesday changes which scenarios are used.

Traditionally, the CBO and the JCT use two kinds of forecasting models: One that projects expenditures and revenues based on current policy assumptions (called the baseline) and another based on the result of proposed legislation (called scoring). They start with the baseline and scoring projects the possible effects on the baseline.

More:
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/28450-house-gop-s-new-rule-allows-republicans-to-hide-tax-cuts

[greymattermom]

1. Sam Brownback can tell them how well those assumptions work

Dems just need to start talking about the deficit a lot. That will confuse them.

[Gothmog]

2. Dynamic Scoring is a joke

[Fred Sanders]

4. The joke is now a permanent lie written into the rules....it is not scientific or accepted.

Will the CBO economists comply with this joke?

[Fred Sanders]

3. This fucking rule change is fucked up. As many economic scientists believe in "dynamic scoring" as

climate scientists believe in global cooling.

Are the economists at the CBO going to obey? It is like ordering physicians to do harm.....

So the fuckers will say this tax cut or that will improve the economy, and, look ma, no deficit problem!
It is fucked up, but they own the media, who will know?

Another section of road laid down on the path to fascism.

[Omaha Steve]

5. K&R!

[pansypoo53219]

6. extra tinkerbell ekonomikkks

tinkle down DOES work! YAY! or underpants gnomes.

[newfie11]

7. Rules by the Oligarchs for the oligarchs

Meanwhile the peasants get less and less.
This is only going to get worse as we have no control of elected officials. It's the wealthy they listen too.