CBO 101, Day 3: Introduction and Recap

Описание: How to Work with CBO: Interpreting Budget Scores, Using Data, and Strengthening Legislative Analysis

In this third session of Fiscal Lab’s “How to Work with CBO” series, we move from understanding the Congressional Budget Office to applying analytical tools that strengthen legislative decision-making. This session focuses on interpreting CBO budget scores, understanding the authority of congressional offices, and using data tools like Excel and FRED to analyze fiscal projections more effectively.

Effective engagement with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) begins with understanding the constitutional and statutory framework that governs fiscal policy. Staffers are encouraged to revisit the U.S. Constitution—particularly Article I powers—as the foundation of congressional authority. The session also reviews key legislative frameworks, including the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 and the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which shape how budget scoring and fiscal analysis operate.

Participants explore:

How to interpret and respond to CBO budget scores

What to do when a legislative proposal receives an unfavorable score

How to adjust economic assumptions (e.g., CPI, growth rates) in CBO tables

The structural differences between CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT)

Writing formal letters to CBO

Leveraging publicly available data tools for independent analysis

A key practical component of the session focuses on applied data analysis. Using Microsoft Excel and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis’s FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) database, staffers learn how to visualize fiscal data, adjust assumptions, and produce professional graphs that enhance legislative briefings.

FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) – St. Louis Fed
https://fred.stlouisfed.org

Additional Fiscal Lab data resources:
https://fiscallab.org/reference-links/

Understanding a budget score does not mean passively accepting it. This session emphasizes analytical independence—equipping congressional staff with the tools to question assumptions, model alternatives, and strengthen legislative proposals.

If you are responsible for economic or budget policy on Capitol Hill, this series is designed to expand your analytical capacity and institutional authority.

Subscribe to the Fiscal Lab channel for future sessions, practical fiscal briefings, and advanced training modules designed for legislative staff.