WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montanan’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today received a letter from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) verifying his amendment saves taxpayer dollars while stopping the implementation of Obamacare.  Rehberg’s Amendment would prevent any funds from being used to pay the salary for anyone who would implement provisions of Obamacare for the remainder of this fiscal year.

“When you cut through the budget tricks and accounting gimmicks, it turns out that common sense wins the day,” said Rehberg, the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education.  “When you strip away all of the spin, and warnings that defunding Obamacare this year would cost money, you’re left with the truth: $1.4 billion in savings this year.  Only in Washington would someone actually buy the claim that it costs money not to spend money.”

According to the CBO, cost savings are achieved in the following ways:

• Delaying completion of regulatory processes for ongoing programs;
• Delaying the implementation of new programs;
• Preventing or delaying the obligation of funds for grant programs; and
• Reducing compliance with changes to the tax code.

The letter also notes that, as a result of the accounting tricks that Democrats used to suggest creating a new $2.6 trillion government entitlement program would also balance the budget, outlying years appear to increase the deficit.

“It’s true that once you get past the actual policy of this year, the CBO is forced to ignore reality and focus on the shimmering mirage of budget gimmicks in outlying years,” said Rehberg.  “Of course, the only way those figures mean anything is if Congress doesn’t change any laws after October 31, 2011.  We’ll get new numbers with every change, and just like a mirage fades away when you get closer, the smoke and mirrors of Obamacare budgeting won’t stand the scrutiny of reality.”

The CBO Letter can be viewed online at: http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=12093