Home Press Room Press Releases

Press Room

Feb 02 2012

Lieberman, Coburn Oppose Budget Gimmicks to Pay For SGR Repeal

“The funds allocated for OCO or “war savings” are not real, and every member of Congress knows this.”

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) today sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) expressing concern over a proposal to use a budget gimmick involving the Overseas Contingency Operations fund to pay for the repeal or partial fix of Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate formula. Such an approach, which is being considered by the Bicameral Conference Committee working on a payroll tax cut extension, would “undoubtedly increase our nation’s debt and deficit in real terms,” and be the “height of fiscal irresponsibility,” the Senators write.

Click here for a PDF version of the letter or see below for the full text:

February 2, 2012

The Honorable Harry Reid

The United States Senate

Washington D.C., 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

The United States Senate

Washington D.C., 20510

Dear Senator Reid and McConnell:

We write out of concern that some members of Congress, including some appointed to the Bicameral Conference Committee working on an extension of the payroll tax cut, are reportedly considering a proposal to “pay for” a repeal of Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula with funds from the Overseas Contingency Operations Fund. While our colleagues may be well-intentioned, we believe this approach is financially misguided and will undoubtedly increase our nation’s debt and deficit in real terms.

As you know, the Congressional Budget Office assumes that the Overseas Contingency Operations costs will remain constant for the next decade, an assumption that is obviously implausible in light of our drawdowns from Iraq and Afghanistan. The funds allocated for OCO or “war savings” are not real, and every member of Congress knows this. The funds specified for Overseas Contingency Operations in future budgets are mere estimates of what our nation’s wars cost may be in the future. And since it is likely that future OCO costs will be significantly less than the placeholders in the Congressional Budget Office’s estimates, it is the height of fiscal irresponsibility to treat the difference between the assumed and actual OCO costs as a “savings” to be spent on other programs.

In that spirit, we will adamantly oppose any effort to use purported OCO savings to pay for the repeal or partial fix of the SGR. We look forward to working with you and other members of Congress to find a financially responsible way to pay for SGR reform that does not further inflate our national debt.

Sincerely,

Tom Coburn, MD

United States Senator

Joseph Lieberman

United States Senator

###

Bookmark and Share


Date Title
12/16/14 Dr. Coburn on Tax Extenders: Washington’s Christmas Tree For Special Interests
12/16/14 Dr. Coburn's Statement on Protecting Veterans and Taxpayers
12/16/14 Senators Baldwin and Coburn Applaud Commitment to Enhance Access to HIV Drugs in Developing Countries
12/16/14 Coburn Introduces Bill to Protect and Strengthen the Social Security Disability Insurance Program
12/9/14 Coburn Releases Report Decoding the Tax Code
Date Title
11/18/14 Reps. Issa, Gingrey, and Sen. Coburn: GAO Study Finds Government’s Data Quality for Official Time is Unreliable
11/10/14 Value of Terrorism Prevention Centers Remains Unproven
Date Title
10/30/14 Wastebook 2014 Videos
10/29/14 Coburn “Concerned” With White House Reaction to Cyber Breach
10/22/14 Wastebook 2014: What Washington doesn't want you to read.
10/1/14 New Report Details Millions Spent on Unnecessary Transport of Surplus Vehicles From Afghanistan
Date Title
9/26/14 GAO: Federal Government Underreports Data Center Cost Savings by Billions
9/23/14 Statement by Senator Tom Coburn on the Recent Washington Post Story about the Department of Homeland Security
9/22/14 GAO: Long-term Viability of DHS Consolidation in Question
9/22/14 Bipartisan Bill to Consolidate Federal IT Infrastructure, Save Up to $3 Billion Passes Senate
9/19/14 Senate Approves Carper, Coburn Legislation to Curb Improper Payments to Deceased Individuals
9/19/14 Bipartisan Legislation Would Require State Representation on Federal Banking Board
9/9/14 Reducing Insurance Subsidies for Wealthy Farmers Could Save Hundreds of Millions Annually
Date Title
8/29/14 New Health Benefit For Temporary Federal Employees May Violate Federal Law
8/28/14 Oklahoma Delegation Responds to Obama Administration’s Failure to Grant ESEA Extension
8/13/14 GAO Report Confirms Need for Additional Oversight of Medicare Claims Reviews
8/12/14 Over 600 Illegal Immigrants with Prior Criminal Convictions Released into the U.S.
8/10/14 Big Banks Claim Millions of Dollars in Tax Credits Intended For Poor Communities
8/8/14 Members Call on OMB Director to Address Concerns of Inspectors General
8/4/14 GAO: $619 Billion in Government Spending Never Disclosed on Transparency Website