Reauthorization of the State and Local Cost Estimate Act

GAO discussed its views on the State and Local Government Cost Estimate Act, focusing on federal and state approaches for estimating the cost of proposed legislation which imposes costs on lower levels of government. GAO noted that: (1) the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) usually has very little time to assess the state and local impacts of proposed legislation; (2) proposed legislation subject to estimates covers a wide variety of subjects; (3) federal estimates take priority over state and local estimates; (4) states face similar constraints in assessing the impact of proposed legislation; (5) it believes that the CBO approach to estimates is reasonable; and (6) it supports the act's reauthorization.