Washington Post, “Lawmakers Warned About Health Costs“:

Congress’s chief budget analyst delivered a devastating assessment yesterday of the health-care proposals drafted by congressional Democrats, fueling an insurrection among fiscal conservatives in the House and pushing negotiators in the Senate to redouble efforts to draw up a new plan that more effectively restrains federal spending.

Washington Times, “CBO: Health care reform to increase federal cost“:

Congress’ budget watchdog warned Thursday that Democrats’ health care bills would not lower skyrocketing costs and would drive up government spending, undermining one of President Obama’s chief arguments for the overhaul.

Washington Examiner, “Obamacare will break the bank.”

Meanwhile, in Bakersfield…

The point being that not everything in America revolves around a CBO analysis, even one that destroys the case for a sweeping health care bill. The rest of the country has other things on its mind, including the effect of the skills gap on crop dusting.

A useful exercise for Inside-the-Beltway types, yours truly included, is to scroll through the front pages of newspapers posted every day at the Newseum’s website. The world does not revolve around Washington. The Quilter’s Hall of Fame kicked off its threefold anniversary Thursday in Marion, Ind. Darn right that’s front-page news.

That said, CBO Director Elemendorf’s comments to the Senate Budget Committee are still well worth reading. The word “unsustainable” is used.

From The Financial Times, “Deficit disorder“:

The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan watchdog, forecasts that the US will post deficits in excess of a trillion dollars in each of the next 10 years. Even on its relatively optimistic assumptions for economic growth, moreover, the CBO predicts national debt will double to 82 per cent of GDP in the next decade – a level not seen since the second world war.

This would push the US close to the chronic debt levels seen in Japan and Italy. “People used to talk about America’s long-term fiscal crisis,” says Douglas Elmendorf, head of the CBO. “That crisis is now.”

Once merely a worthy subject of concern, America’s fiscal outlook has rapidly become the object of widespread alarm. “Aside from weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, America’s fiscal situation is the most dangerous challenge facing the country,” says Mr Gregg. “Unchecked, it will reduce growth, weaken the dollar and ultimately undermine America’s global leadership role.”

(Hat tip: Instapundit.)