In a previous posting on this blog, Reflections of a Retired Law Librarian: From Mimeograph to Generative AI, I urged professional organizations, including the American Bar Association (ABA) and the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), to appoint committees or commissions at the highest level to facilitate the development and…
Articles Posted in Commentary and Opinion
Congressional Budget Office Plans in the Event of a Government Shutdown
CBO responds to Senator Rand Paul’s request for information about CBO’s operations had there been a shutdown on October 1. CBO Letter responding to Senator Rand Paul’s request Summary; Because of CBO’s role in supporting the Congress in its constitutional function, the agency had been instructed by the House and…
The Potential for Using Generative AI to Help Regulate Criminal Behavior
Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence technology that can produce various types of content, including text, imagery, audio and information that is artificially manufactured. The recent interest in generative AI has been driven by the simplicity of new user interfaces for creating high-quality content, including text, graphics and…
An Overview of Death Penalty in the United States
Introduction: The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is the practice of executing individuals who have been convicted of certain serious crimes, typically murder. The United States has a complex and controversial history with the death penalty, involving legal, ethical, and societal considerations. This posting provides an overview of…
Congressional Budget Office Monthly Budget Review: July 2023
The federal budget deficit was $1.6 trillion in the first 10 months of fiscal year 2023, the Congressional Budget Office estimates—more than twice the shortfall recorded during the same period last year. Revenues were 10 percent lower and outlays were 10 percent higher from October through July than they were…
CBO: Answers to Questions for the Record Following a Hearing on Social Security’s Finances
Report: August 4, 2023. On July 12, 2023, the Senate Committee on the Budget convened a hearing at which Phillip L. Swagel, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, testified about Social Security’s finances. After the hearing, Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse, Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, and Senator Ron Wyden submitted questions…
Congressional Budget Office: H.R.4503, AI Training Expansion Act of 2023
August 4, 2023. As ordered Reported by the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on July 12, 2023. Summary: H.R. 4503 would require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expand a training program to provide federal managers with an introductory understanding of the operational benefits and privacy risks…
CBO Blog Post: A Call for New Research In the Area of Taxes and Transfers
Originally posted by John McClellan et. al. on July 25, 2023. As part of the legislative process, the Congressional Budget Office* supplies the Congress with cost estimates for legislation, economic and budget projections, and other economic assessments. Information from the research community is an important element of CBO’s analyses. This…
CB0 Blog Posting: Call For New Research in the Area of National Security
Original Posting by David Mosher et.al. on July 24, 2023* As part of the legislative process, the Congressional Budget Office supplies the Congress with cost estimates for legislation, economic and budget projections, and other economic assessments. Information from the research community is an important element of CBO’s analyses. This is…
Congressional Budget Office: Projected Costs of U.S. Nuclear Forces, 2023 – 2032
Report, July 14, 2023 CBO estimates that plans for U.S. nuclear forces, as described in the fiscal year 2023 budget and supporting documents, would cost $756 billion over the 2023–2032 period, $122 billion more than CBO’s 2021 estimate for the 2021–2030 period. Summary: Nuclear weapons have been an important component…