CRS Withdraws Report But Gets Drawn Into Politics
The Congressional Research Service usually shies away from the political limelight, but is finding itself under its glare now.
CRS withdrew a report whose findings questioned GOP orthodoxy on taxes after Senate Republicans disputed its conclusions, The New York Times reported today.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was among the dubious. His spokesman questioned the "methodology and other flaws." And other Republican aides objected to the tone of the report which used terms like "Bush tax cuts," the Times said.
The report found no evidence to suggest a link between top tax rates and "the size of the economic pie," which is at odds with Republican economic philosophy. Some Democrats say their opponents are just sour.
"This has hues of a banana republic," Sen. Chuck Schumer said, according to the Times. "They didn't like a report, and instead of rebutting it, they had them take it down."
Republicans didn't say if they asked CRS to withdraw the report, the Times said.
A CRS spokeswoman didn't comment to the Times about its decision but confirmed the report was taken out of circulation.
As for the political tone surrounding the report, the service's website points out CRS aims to keep out of those kinds of arguments.
"CRS is well-known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective and nonpartisan," the site reads.
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