Summary

GAO commented on the draft bill entitled the Government Printing Office (GPO) Act of 1997, which proposes to transfer GPO to the executive office in an effort to resolve the issue concerning legislative branch control over executive branch printing. GAO noted that to address the issue of executive branch control over legislative branch printing, and to end GPO's monopoly over federal government printing, the government's printing needs should be fulfilled elsewhere whenever possible. This solution would resolve the separation of powers issue and would have the added benefit of enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of GPO by exposing it to market forces.