Orzag's Budget Fantasies Exposed

[From article]
"In the federal budget process, the baseline scenario is typically based on current law. But the Obama administration has argued that it should be able to work from “current policy.” That way, they can stuff all sorts of expensive future changes into the baseline.

[. . .]

Those policies were all explicitly created to be temporary. But by quietly assuming they’ll continue on, the administration avoids accounting for $216 billion.

[. . .]

Since 2007, Democrats in Congress have violated PAYGO requirements to the tune of nearly $1 trillion.'
[. . .]
Under Orszag’s watch, budget gimmicks became a way of life for the Obama White House. Both he and Obama may want to pretend their budget numbers tell the truth, but at this point, it’s tough to see their constant fiscal fakery as anything other than a long exercise in make believe."

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/legacy_of_budget_trickery_8ct6pTyZoTHgKNhwerJdCM

A legacy of budget trickery

Peter Orszag's sleight of hand

By PETER SUDERMAN

Last Updated: 5:08 AM, July 25, 2010

Posted: 12:31 AM, July 25, 2010