as a result the fy-2009 required omb to give a definition.the draft policy letter released on mash 31 claimed, aims to clarify when work performed for the federal government must be carried out in whole or in part by federal employees but, unfortunately, the government's draft guidance doesn't comment on the functions that have been contracted out including provision of security forces, interrogation of enemy combatants and coordination of federal contractors. omb's publication of the finalized letter is unlikely retrosolve the debate because there remains little consensus. and as dr. avant just noefted is a sliding scale. this is an enormously difficult task and the fact that it's so difficult is vividly demonstrated by congress's decision to pass the responsibility for defining the terms on to the executive branch. this matters because if a given function is deemed governmental it then becomes illegal for the government to contract it out even in extremists. on the other hand, simply deeming a task not to be governmental and one that agenci

as a result the fy-2009 required omb to give a definition. the draft policy letter released on mash 31 claimed, aims to clarify when work performed for the federal government must be carried out in whole or in part by federal employees but, unfortunately, the government's draft guidance doesn't comment on the functions that have been contracted out including provision of security forces, interrogation of enemy combatants and coordination of federal contractors. omb's publication of the finalized letter is unlikely retrosolve the debate because theremains little nsensus. and as dr. avant just noefted is a sliding scale. this is an enormously difficult task and the fact that it's so difficult is vividly demonstrated by congress's decision to pass the responsibili for defining the terms on to the executive branch. this matters because if a given function is deemed governmental it then becomes illegal for the government to contract it out even in extremists. on the other hand, simply deeming a task not to be governmental and one that agencies cou

this is from at least omb watch perspective and maybe it goes beyond that.st off, when i said that the open government is too minimalist. what i want to see is no matte which agency you go to, you want consistency and the type of information ou get. i want accountability, i want information about what market was lking about on the purchase and collaboration, i want information about their set up. and if i'm not going to get consistency across from one agency to the oter, i'm going to face the hopscotch kind of system. one agency is good and the other one is not. i'm not going to have understanding on one agey or the other. congratulations to the white house. why aren't we having that agency? i want to know about the lob byist and other corporate powers. rst off win think the open government directive, we need to have an open floor. : to help the public better see where the government is doing good things. and we have to have the building blocks, rather than dropping the transparency items. some of us in this room have been working to have unique identifiers

orszag,, the head of omb has said the 2001 2001/2002 tax cuts unpaid for and passed by republicans on a virtually partisan basis will have added $6 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. do you have any figures that would substantially differ from dr. orszag's? have those three bills added to the national debt? >> i don't have any figures but i know that they calculate on a baseline basis. those numbers would be pretty big i think. >> if we go forward with making permanent all of the bush 2001/2003 tax cuts, reduce the national debt or increase the national debt? >> if you did absolutely nothing else, it would make-- he would increase it says it might make the economy grow faster but not fast enough to make up for revenue lost. >> in and of themselves extending those tax cuts makes them permit would increase the national debt? >> us away but it also a trade-off and you have to ask yourself whether there are other options that may be more effective at reducing deficits at less cost. >> i understand the timing is important but in your opinion do tax cuts pay for themselves?

omb used in part to create work force. one of the reasons why governments and municipalities are struggling is because they have to pay a high percentage in pensions. guest: the statistics are staggering in some communities. the percent of the budget that goes to satisfy pension obligations, in los angeles county is 20% of the budget. host: that is money off the top before being spent on anything else. the trade-off is continuing to pay the pension benefits. the people are owed that money. state constitutions require those accounts be honored. you see pressures on the other side. school budgets, teachers laid off, libraries and parks closing. something has to give host:. what is the pension benefit guaranty corp. do? guest: these plans are back stopped by thepbgc up to certain limits. there have been some calls to extend our research coverage to the public sector. that has not gotten traction host: we will take your phone calls in just a few minutes. listed on your screen. we also have a line for independence. you can send

orszag is the director of omb arr not, i think the policy of the administration will pursue this goal -- fiscally responsible alternatives. >> you worked on deeming resolution? to what extent has there been completion about spending levels between the wings of the party? and what other extraneous items will be on that one? >> we're close to reaching agreement on levels that can be supported. and i'm hopeful that that is the case and i hope that we will pass a budget and resolution before we break for the july 4 break. >> why is it that a lot of discussions, there seems to be something which is overlooked, the fact that wall street has created a huge burden on the government? i think it has been a clear impediment but paulson that the treasury, and geithner continues the bailout. i find it quite distasteful that one of the immediate things that we say needs to be cut are entitlements, when clearly wall street could use some austerity if we're going to have a surplus, there has to be an economic recovery, which means systemic regulations in the system. and i think we need to return to t

those o you are not for my with the open government plans, pursuanto the preident's initial directive, ombsued a for the directive to all of the agencies to design an open government plan. and we provided a very,ery detailed list of the information that needs to go in the open government pn. the idea here i that the cabinet agencies will internalize and take responsibility for, not just the cabinet agencies really throughout governmen the agencies will internalize, take responsibility for and implement a sees of steps to open up to the americ people,o the particular folks who have strong interest rlationships with those agencies, too, among other tings, let the world see what is happening inside the ency, to unleash information that is viable within the agencyto engage with substantive experts and ordinary folks in the agency's business so the agencies coerned, better serve the american people. the process, of all of the open government reports, are now on ency websites. and i just wan to say a word about the processecause it reallyexemplifies this newway of doing business that the preside

omb has defined it as so intimately related to the public interest as to mandate performance by federal government personal. it is car that there is agreement with congress and the executive branch. i was trying to box you indiana pa in, in part to illustrate a point. you don't want to be boxed in.p. you don't want to be boxed in. if we box you in, tow muco muchy won't be able to carry out their mission. you have probably the most differences. so, when mr. urban pointed out th you agree more than you disagree and he said that was a difference that i had. i value what he says because he is one of the best lteners i have ever encountered. sometimes at meetings i have him su summarize whate heard. it seem to me, that i would like you all, i would like to at least come back to continue this point we went through the convoys, and wwent through personnel. you have the government and private choice and you have the mixture in between government and private mixture. in other words private, contractors with government oversight. in the static facilities, you have bases, government buildings, you

it is congress, the white house, the omb.has to be a transparent process to succeed. >> did you hear anything back from congress on that abilene speech? >> i think the general reaction has been very positive. i saw comments from senator levin. i think that the general reaction has been very positive. >> thank you, ladies and gentlemen. >> thank you. >> president obama spoke at carnegie mellon university this week. he noted the economic recovery tax impact on the economy, citing an estimated 720,000 clean energy jobs that will be greeted by 2012 from tax credits and guarantees -- created by 2012 from tax credits and guarantees. allan meltzer responded saying, "the huge stimulus spending has done little to reduce unemployment, and long-term unemployment has never been higher than the last couple of years." watched the president's remarks and read the response, as well as a statement by the house minority leader john boehner, and our stimulus website at c- span.org/stimulus. >> pulitzer prize winners today on book tv prime time.

all of them are going through the omb review. i am not sure i'm ready to comment on what the process will be for issuing them. you mentioned the time frames. we agree with them. a door to get the regulations out, the necessary -- in order to get the regulations out, the necessary issuance has been made clear that some of them might be subject to read visitation. we're happy to get in the comments. >> time for one more question. is no one from the press that has not had a chance to ask a question? ok. can i have the gentleman in the far corner? >> david, from the afl-cio. we are concerned that the disclosure form does not do, or does it poor job of reducing the opacity that you have been speaking about. similar concerns have been consigned -- have been raised about the delineation for the purposes of the calculation. how much are they willing to challenge the recommendations? >> as we pointed out, several times during the course of this, and certainly, i am committed to this, as his secretary and the president, i think we view the