754 Days & Counting Since Senate Democrats Passed A Budget
It’s been more than 750 days since U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) and the Democrats who run the Senate have performed the most basic job function of Congress by passing a federal budget – during which time the federal debt has risen by an additional $3.1 trillion.
But despite our nation’s growing fiscal crisis, Senate Democrats have yet to even propose a budget in the current 112th Congress, let alone debate and pass one, and Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) now claims that it would be “foolish” for Democrats to attempt to do their jobs by proposing a budget.
As the Los Angeles Times reports:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it would be “foolish” for Democrats to propose their own federal budget for 2012, despite continued attacks from Republicans that the party is ducking its responsibility to put forward a solution to the nation’s deficit problems. “There’s no need to have a Democratic budget in my opinion,” Reid said in an interview Thursday. “It would be foolish for us to do a budget at this stage.”
In stark contrast, every U.S. Senate Republican is on record this Congress in supporting a balanced budget amendment in Washington. Meanwhile, the Nebraska Constitution requires the legislature to balance the state budget.
“After more than 750 days, Ben Nelson and the Democrats say it would be ‘foolish’ to do their jobs and pass a budget,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox. “Every Nebraska family and small business has to put together a budget and live within their means, so why shouldn’t Nelson and the Senate Democrats?”
Background Information:
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)
Every Senate Republican Is On Record This Congress In Supporting A Balanced Budget Amendment
“U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, today joined with all 47 Republican members of the U.S. Senate to introduce a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution in order to restore fiscal accountability in Washington and stop adding to the country’s $14 trillion debt.” (U.S. Senator John Thune, Press Release, 03/31/11)
