Today, Republican Majority Leader John Boehner, Minority Whip Eric Cantor, and the Ranking Members of the Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means committees requested that the Speaker allow the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to analyze the Democrats’ health care bill before proceeding with committee and floor action.

“An independent analysis has shown the bill would force two out of three Americans to lose their current health are coverage,” the Republicans wrote.  “The mandates and taxes to pay for this $1.5 trillion bill could cost five million Americans their jobs.  Clearly, CBO’s full and thorough analysis is critical to the House performing its duties on behalf of the American people.”

While CBO released some health care data yesterday, in his letter to Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Director Douglas Elmendorf admitted, “It is important to note, however, that [the] estimates are based on specifications provided by the tri-committee group rather than an analysis of the language released [yesterday].”

“We have an obligation to fully and carefully debate and dissect legislative proposals, particularly those which so fundamentally alter our current health care delivery system.  Artificial deadlines for House action, particularly one that will not be matched by the Senate, threaten to undermine that obligation,” Republicans added.

To read the Republican letter, click here.  

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