CBO: No savings in health plans

WASHINGTON, July 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. House and Senate healthcare plans would likely increase the national debt considerably, the head of the Congressional Budget Office said Thursday.

Douglas Elmendorf, in testimony before the Senate Budget Committee, said neither proposal would cut healthcare spending, The New York Times reported. By law, the non-partisan office cannot consider potential savings from steps that are outside of legislators' direct control, like the assumption earlier treatment would cut costs.

"In the legislation that has been reported, we do not see the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount," Elmendorf said in response to a question from the committee chairman, Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. "And on the contrary, the legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for healthcare costs."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., were harshly critical of Elmendorf's testimony, while Republicans used it to criticize the healthcare plans.