755 Days & Counting Since Senate Democrats Passed A Budget
It’s been 755 days since U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and the Democrats who run the Senate have performed the most basic job function of Congress by passing a federal budget. Additionally in the 112th Congress, Democrats like Amy Klobuchar haven’t even offered their budget proposal, because their leaders – Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) – have stated that not only do Democrats not have the time to propose a budget, but it would be “foolish” of them to do so.
“Minnesotans deserve to know if Senator Amy Klobuchar agrees with her liberal party leaders that it’s foolish for Democrats to offer their budget proposal or if she believes it’s time for the Senate to do its job and pass a budget,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Spokesman Jahan Wilcox. “With a national debt of over $14.3 trillion, it’s time for Klobuchar to explain why her party appears more concerned with winning the next election than reining in their reckless spending habits that are bankrupting our country.”
Background Information:
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES: “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.” (Lisa Mascaro, Harry Reid: ‘Foolish’ for Democrats to offer budget plan, LA Times, 05/20/11)
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)
- “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)
“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)
