CBO Director Peter Orszag spoke at a conference on evidence-based medical reform and the long term fiscal challenge yesterday. The entire conference had interesting speakers, particularly Prof. Elliott Fisher. Very interesting stuff.

NEWS ITEM: 8. Which political party, the (Democrats) or the (Republicans), do you trust to do a better job handling The federal budget deficit? Democrats: 52; Republicans: 29. [This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone September 27-30, 2007, among a random national sample of 1,114 adults.]

After Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) agreed to withdraw an amendment to cut the estate tax, Senate Finance Committee chair Max Baucus (D-MT) promised a committee mark-up of Kyl's amendment next spring.

On Wednesday evening, the Senate passed, by voice vote, the FY 2008 Defense spending bill. Although both House and Senate versions have identical bottom lines, there are differences between the measures regarding funding levels for specific programs. CQ($) informs us that, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), "Conferences have started." Additionally, Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have worked out a "302(b) allocation situation." It looks like we could see a bill or two move to the president's desk soon. October 5, 2007 House Senate Conf. Cmte. President