1.   An adjustment down of the index could save the government billions in federal payments, but would reduce the rate of growth for numerous popular programs.

2.   An adjustment in the CPI would save the government billions, but is politically sensitive because it would slow annual increases in Social Security.

3.   And Gore said the bill requiring payments to private property owners for the impact of regulations could cost the government billions.

4.   A small adjustment in the index could save the government billions of dollars a year and help cement a budget deal.

5.   But critics complain that provision will end up costing the government billions of dollars in the long run.

6.   But those subsidies are costing the government billions at a time when revenues have fallen to nearly zero.

7.   Critics charge that the CPI, and hence the COLAs, overstate inflation and cost the government billions of dollars a year in added benefit payments.

8.   Even a modest scientific adjustment could save the government billions of dollars a year and give Republicans some leeway to ease their unprecedented cutbacks in Medicare and Medicaid.

9.   Greenspan said the overstatement needlessly costs the government billions.

10.   Greenspan, who made no comments about the current state of the economy in his prepared remarks, said the overstatement needlessly costs the government billions.