In the 112th Congress, Senate Democrats Haven’t Even Proposed A Budget
As a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2006, Bob Casey (D-PA) repeatedly expressed his support for a balanced budget and routinely pilloried Republicans for their fiscal record in Washington.
Yet today marks a full 750 days since Casey and the Democrat-controlled Senate have passed ANY budget, let alone a balanced budget, something which Casey has also never once helped to pass since coming to Washington. In fact, in the current 112th Congress, Senate Democrats have yet to even propose a budget, let alone debate and pass one. And in just the 750 days since Casey and his fellow Democrats who run the Senate have failed to pass a budget, the federal debt has risen by an additional $3.1 trillion.
“Every month, every Pennsylvania family has to put together a budget and live within their means, yet Bob Casey and his fellow liberal Democrats in Washington apparently don’t believe they should be held to that same standard,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “Passing a federal budget each year is the most basic responsibility of the Congress, but for more than four years Bob Casey has been content to kick the can down the road and keep maxing out the government credit card. Now here we are after 750 days, and Casey and his fellow Democrats won’t even propose a budget, let alone pass one.”
Background…
As Democrats continue to spend, Americans are still waiting for their budget:
- “… it’s been more than 700 days since the Democrat-controlled Senate has actually passed a budget.” (Andrew Stiles, “Conrad the Cowardly Budget Chair?” National Review, 05/06/11)
- “It has been more than 700 days since Senate Democrats have voted on a budget. Republicans sent a letter to Conrad this week demanding to see a budget before they are forced to vote on it. Conrad has not responded.” (Conn Carroll, “Morning Examiner: The most important number of the week,” The Examiner, 05/06/11)
- “Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) says he has no immediate plans to mark up a budget, as members of his committee continue to disagree over spending cuts and tax increases….Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) cast doubt on whether Conrad’s effort will succeed. ‘I don’t know there is going to be a Conrad budget,’ Baucus said.” (Alex Bolton, Senate Dems’ Budget In Limbo, The Hill 5/17/2011)
Since the Democrat-controlled Senate last passed a budget, the federal debt has risen by an additional $3.1 trillion:
- On April 27, 2009, The National Debt Was $11.2 Trillion. (Treasury Direct Website, www.treasurydirect.gov, Accessed 5/18/11)
- Today, The National Debt Is Over $14.3 Trillion. (Treasury Direct Website, www.treasurydirect.gov, Accessed 5/18/11)
And aside from not passing a budget, Senate Democrats aren’t doing much of anything else either:
- “The legislative snoozefest that has been the U.S. Senate this year isn’t likely to change anytime soon …” (Steven T. Dennis, “Senate Faces Modest Agenda as Debt Limit Looms,” Roll Call, 05/01/11)
- “Even the modest agenda laid out by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has begun to stall.” (Steven T. Dennis, “Senate Faces Modest Agenda as Debt Limit Looms,” Roll Call, 05/01/11)
- “Through last week, the Senate had held only 70 roll-call votes, the lowest level through this point in the year since 1997. About a quarter of those votes have been on nominations — many of them noncontroversial.” (Manu Raju, “Slow-go Senate avoids tough roll-call votes,” Politico, 05/18/11)
But As A Candidate For the Senate In 2006, Casey Expressed Support For A Federal Balanced Budget:
Casey Campaign Ad: “I Believe In A Balanced Budget. Government Should Live Within Its Means, Like Any Small Business.” MR. RUSSERT: “Let me find out how you would implement something that you’re promising the voters of Pennsylvania. Here’s a Casey campaign ad about our budget.” (Videotape, Bob Casey campaign ad): MR. CASEY: “I believe in a balanced budget. Government should live within its means, like any small business.” MR. RUSSERT: “How would you get a balanced budget?” MR. CASEY: “It’s not easy, Tim, but here are the steps we should take. First of all, when it comes to the budget, what’s missing principally is a lack of fiscal responsibility, you know that. We’ve gone from about two, 236 of, of surplus down to 296 in deficit. We need some fiscal discipline.” (2006 Pennsylvania Senate Debate, “Meet The Press,” 9/3/06)
- Video Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPYUwCYLBOk
