True cost to grow even higher

The Hill (5/12, Pecquet, subscription required) says that Energy and Commerce Republicans stated, "We can expect the true cost to grow even higher, since CBO noted this new estimate does not include 38 sections of grant programs, which cover 406 pages of legislation. ... While the Democrat authors of the law did not specify a funding level for these particular programs, they are certain to further increase spending." But, the "White House quickly responded to the latest figures from CBO by pointing out that the new estimates would need to be paid for and therefore do not affect the deficit." And, despite the new CBO figures, Office of Management and Budget Communications Director Kenneth Baer said that the healthcare law "will reduce the deficit by more than $100 billion in the first decade, and that will not change unless Congress acts to change it."