Elmendorf: Health Reform Will Reduce Deficit, Warns Of Fiscal Crisis
Politico: In remarks to reporters Thursday, Congressional Budget Office director Doug Elmendorf warned of a looming budget crisis that "cannot be solved through minor tinkering." The nation's "unsustainable" spending could increase the national debt from $7.5 trillion at the end of 2009 to 20.3 trillion in 2020, when the debt would total 90 percent of gross domestic product, Elmendorf noted (Allen, 4/8).The Christian Science Monitor, which sponsored the event: "But Elmendorf did stand by the CBO's assertion that the healthcare reform package would reduce the budget deficit over the next 10 years and in the 10 years after and acknowledged Washington's challenge in the choices it faces over taxes and spending" (Feldman, 4/8). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
