CBO Show Your Work Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8]
- Committees
- Budget Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jan 24, 2025
Bottom line
The bill aims to increase transparency and replicability of the Congressional Budget Office's cost analyses and economic projections by requiring public disclosure of its methodologies and data.
What it actually does
This bill, the "CBO Show Your Work Act," amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to mandate that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) publicly disclose the fiscal and policy models, data preparation routines, and underlying data used for its cost estimates and scoring of legislation. It requires sufficient detail to allow for replication of CBO's computations by external individuals, while also providing specific guidelines for handling data that cannot be disclosed due to statutory requirements.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that greater transparency in CBO's scoring process is essential for accountability and public trust. They contend that by making models, data, and computations publicly available, policymakers and the public can better understand how legislative costs are estimated, scrutinize assumptions, and foster more informed debate on fiscal policy. This would allow for independent verification and potentially improve the accuracy and credibility of CBO's work.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that requiring the CBO to publish all its models and data could be overly burdensome, potentially slowing down the legislative process by diverting resources from core analytical tasks to compliance and public relations. They might also raise concerns about the potential for external groups to misinterpret or selectively use the data to undermine CBO's non-partisan analysis, or that proprietary data sources could be compromised even with disclosure rules.
The bill is very short and clear, making it highly accessible for any reader to understand its core purpose and provisions.
Section 2(b)(1) of the bill, amending 2 U.S.C. 653(b)(1)
Mandate Public Disclosure of CBO Models and Data Preparation Routines
This provision requires the CBO Director to make publicly available on the CBO website all fiscal models, policy models, and data preparation routines that the CBO uses to estimate the costs and other fiscal, social, or economic effects of legislation. It also requires the publication of any updates to these models or routines.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that making these models and routines public will demystify CBO's work, allowing for greater understanding and independent verification of its analyses, thereby increasing trust and accountability in the legislative process.
Critics contend
Some might argue that publishing complex internal models could lead to misinterpretations or misuse by those without sufficient expertise, potentially undermining public confidence rather than enhancing it.
Tradeoffs
The tension lies between the desire for transparency and the potential for misinterpretation or increased administrative burden on CBO.
Section 2(b)(3) of the bill, amending 2 U.S.C. 653(b)(3)
Require Data and Computation Details for Replication
This provision mandates that for each cost estimate, the CBO must make available the data, programs, models, assumptions, and other computational details used to prepare that estimate. The level of detail must be sufficient to allow individuals not employed by CBO to replicate the estimate.
Section 2(b)(4) of the bill, amending 2 U.S.C. 653(b)(4)
Guidelines for Statutorily Protected Data
For any data that CBO is legally prohibited from disclosing, this provision requires CBO to still make public a complete list of all data variables, descriptive statistics (like averages, standard deviations, number of observations, and correlations) as long as these statistics do not violate disclosure rules, a reference to the statute requiring non-disclosure, and contact information for individuals or entities with unrestricted access to the data.
Section 2(b) of the bill
Effective Date of Amendments
The amendments made by this Act will take effect six months after the date of its enactment. This provides the CBO with a transition period to implement the new disclosure requirements.
The bill requires CBO to make data, programs, models, assumptions, and other computational details available "in a manner sufficient to permit replication by individuals not employed by the Congressional Budget Office."
Section 2(b)(3)
Why it matters:This phrasing is standard legislative practice for setting a performance standard without prescribing the exact method, allowing the implementing agency flexibility. However, it also means the true impact depends on CBO's interpretation and execution.
Case for: Supporters argue this strong language ensures genuine transparency, pushing CBO to provide comprehensive details rather than superficial summaries, fostering true independent verification.
Case against: Critics might argue that without clearer guidelines, this could lead to endless debates over what constitutes "sufficient," potentially burdening CBO with requests for clarification or additional data, or even legal challenges.
Estimated impact: This provision could significantly increase the administrative and documentation burden on CBO, potentially requiring new internal protocols and IT infrastructure.