Letter to the Hon. Mary Mazanec, Director of the Congressional Research Service - Grassley Presses CRS on Objectivity of Tax Reform Analysis

Letter

Dear Director Mazanec,

A recent paper by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) put forward what CRS seems to believe are noteworthy observations with respect to economic effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. I have received comments from others who believe that the CRS observations are not entirely nonpartisan in tone or objective. As indicated in the attached "Overview," my professional staff has also expressed reasons to be concerned about your recent report. Additionally, I have received the attached communication from an official at the Department of the Treasury that calls into question elements of the recent CRS paper.

If CRS wishes to produce original research analysis that takes a position and tone that is favorable to one side of a debate, without balancing it with alternative objective views, then CRS ought not to present its analysis as objective, nonpartisan, and authoritative. One immediate question that arises is whether CRS subjects its original research to any sort of balanced and objective external peer-review process. Another is: how should Congress and the Public interpret research analysis of the economy when faced with differences that arise between CRS and our scorekeepers, the Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation, when all are to be regarded as authoritative voices of Congress.

I request that you meet with my professional staff to discuss these issues.

Source