754 Days & Counting Since Senate Democrats Passed A Budget
It’s been more than 750 days since U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) 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.”
Notably, as a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2006, Casey repeatedly expressed his support for a balanced budget and routinely pilloried Republicans for their fiscal record in Washington. But his record in Washington has been to do the exact opposite, failing to propose any budget, let alone a balanced budget, and rubberstamping his party’s failed economic agenda – including the $787 billion stimulus and ObamaCare, which the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently estimated will increase federal deficits by $260 billion through 2019.
In stark contrast, every U.S. Senate Republican, including Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) is on record this Congress in support of a federal balanced budget amendment. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Constitution requires a balanced state budget.
“Bob Casey campaigned for Senate promising to support a balanced budget, but he’s done the exact opposite in Washington,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “Now after more than 750 days, Casey and the Democrats say it would be ‘foolish’ to do their jobs and pass a budget. Every Pennsylvania family and small business has to put together a budget and live within their means, so why shouldn’t Casey 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 5/23/11)
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
The Pennsylvania Constitution Requires A Balanced Budget
“Balanced Budget: . . . . The Pennsylvania Constitution Requires The Governor To Submit A Balanced Budget And Prohibits The General Assembly From Appropriating Money In Excess Of Actual And Estimated Revenues And Surplus.” (Pennsylvania House Of Representatives Democratic Committee On Appropriations Website, www.hacd.net, Accessed 5/23/11)
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. Senate Republican Policy Committee (RPC), Press Release, 03/31/11)
