And so your analogy does not relate to the U.S. tax reality. It relates to a theoretical reality.

Any way they want, they can shift all that income overseas?

We have to do something about it.

Does it define the windows for loans?

And you agreed, I believe, that this was located where it is for tax purposes.

You are not in a position to tell us what the policy is of the Treasury Department, I gather.

The bottom line, though, is not complex. We have a fiscal crisis in this country.

If you believed, if FASB believed that APB 23 was being used by multinational corporations as a way of managing their earnings, would you view that as a problem?

The record is going to speak for itself on that statement of yours.

Was that rule in existence during the entire time you were acting as auditor?

the goal is to have a tax policy that is transparent, that is reproducible, that is fair, that does not allow people to avoid taxes

It just violates, it seems to me, everything which you folks should be about, which is trying to get to substance and trying to get through form.

Give me a period of time and tell me how many loans were----

If any company can get away with having an effective repatriation of money overseas--without paying taxes, in other words--it is effective repatriation.

I think the question is--to me it sounds anecdotal.

I think we probably should then official ask the Social Security Administration to answer that question since this panel is not able to answer it.

That is where our big backup is, at the administrative law judge level.

I wonder if it would be agreeable to you, Senator, and also to Dr. Coburn, if we ask actually the Social Security Administration for their reaction officially to the recommendations in the report.

Do you think the ALJs know that?

I agree with him. Just how does a judge do three or four or five cases a day?

You think that has been clear with the ALJs.

Is there a way--and I do not want to misstate Dr. Coburn's question because he states them better than I can.

What is your personal experience?

A large percentage, it is very concerning.

I do not think it is 1:4/4:1. Are there any other reasons that you can think of besides demographics as to why there has been that shift?