770 Days & Counting Since Nelson & The Senate Democrats Passed A Budget
It’s been 770 days since U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) and the Democrats who run the Senate have failed to perform the most basic job function of Congress by passing a federal budget. In fact, Nelson and his fellow Democrats have refused to even propose a budget in the current Congress.
To make matters worse, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) announced that last month we were assessed $5 billion more in interest payments on our debt than in May 2010 and the fiscal year budget deficit now stands at $929 billion.
“Democrats like Ben Nelson said they did not have the time to propose, let alone pass a budget and now we have learned that Nelson’s inaction has resulted in $5 billion more in interest payments on our debt,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox. “With our national debt at $14.3 trillion and unemployment above 9 percent, it’s deeply troubling that Nelson has displayed no sense of urgency or offered any budget proposals that will reduce our federal deficit – opting instead to kick the can to the next generation.”
Background
THE HILL: “Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) downplayed the lack of a Democratic budget proposal Monday, saying there’s simply no room to deal with an alternative until the Senate has voted on the House GOP’s controversial proposal.” (Sam Baker, Schumer: Alternatives to Ryan budget ‘not the point,’ The Hill, 05/23/11)
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE: “[In May] net interest on the public debt grew by $5 billion, and spending by the Social Security Administration was $3 billion higher this May than it was last May.” (Monthly Budget Review, CBO, 06/07/11)
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE: “The federal budget deficit is $929 billion for the first eight months of fiscal year 2011 …” (Monthly Budget Review, CBO, 06/07/11)
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 6/7/11)
- Today, The National Debt Is Over $14.3 Trillion. (Treasury Direct Website, www.treasurydirect.gov, Accessed 6/7/11)
