I understand that some programs are designed very quickly, on the back of an envelope, as it were, that officials are not ready and that, after an announcement, they have to hustle to make up for lost time. I understand that. But for most routine expenses, the vast majority of government expenses, how is it that the two cannot be reconciled quickly? Everything is known; only the amounts may change, depending on what the government of the day wants to do.
On May 14th, 2012. See this statement in context.