Open Thread: CBO Director Tells Congress 'We Don't Estimate Speeches'

June 24th, 2011 11:22 AM

President Obama's budget, as it stands, has no concrete form. There are few details to examine, most likely because the president knows that offering a real budget would open himself up to attacks currently reserved only for Republicans - who have, in contrast, offered a detailed budget proposal. In a House Budget Committee hearing yesterday, Congressional Budget Office director Doug Elmehndorf confirmed GOP criticisms of Obama by noting that he cannot score the president's budget - or lack thereof - since, as he put it, "we don't estimate speeches." Check out video below the break.

Thoughts on this exchange? On the budget debate generally?