dupe

[kpete]

The CBO report is expected today, and has to happen today to meet the deadline. Of course, missed deadlines are the process hallmark of this bill, so perhaps history is against Congress on that one. Jon Cohn describes the big hold-up.
............

In order to satisfy the requirements for the budget reconciliation process, through which Congress will consider the amendments, CBO must certify that the changes will reduce the deficit both in the decade following enactment and the decade following that.
http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-treatment/why-delay-good-if-frustrating

You know what would do that budgetary trick, what could save the feds as much $110 billion over ten years? That's right, a robust public option. And they could save $25 billion with the public option the House already passed. Go figure.

way more:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/17/847214/-Wheres-the-CBO-Report

[kenny blankenship]

1. Sure they COULD do that.

But they can just juggle the numbers a little while longer and come up with an A+ Arthur Andersen clean bill of health instead. That way they won't piss off their owners.