Politics & Government

Congressman Demands Senate Budget Action

Fitzpatrick: 800 days of inaction marked by increased spending and higher unemployment.

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-8th) today demanded that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid take the necessary measures to pass a fiscally responsible budget. 

According to a release from the Congressman's office, a letter, being sent by Fitzpatrick and colleagues to Senator Reid, calls for the Senate to adjust its summer calendar to ensure consideration and passage of a budget proposal prior to the start of the next fiscal year in September. 

“Today marks 800 days since the Democrat-controlled United States Senate has passed a budget.  Our nation’s economy is sputtering, out-of-control spending continues unabated, and the unemployment rate is on the rise,” said Fitzpatrick.  “The House of Representatives has been considering and passing appropriations bills that recognize our fiscal reality and fund our nation’s priorities.  Meanwhile, Senator Reid has repeatedly failed to pass a budget, take meaningful action on spending cuts, and act on important reforms sent to him by the House.  American families don’t get 800 days to figure out how or if they are going to pay their bills, and neither should Senator Reid.”

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 Fitzpatrick has also cosponsored legislation which will effectively defund House and Senate Budget Committees and leadership offices responsible for passage of a budget resolution in the event that they fail to act.  The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires each house of Congress to pass a concurrent resolution on the budget every year.  The House has fulfilled its obligation to produce a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, yet the Senate has failed to approve all budgetary measures passed by the House.

“With no responsible budget in place, economic uncertainty is hindering job creation and is slowing our recovery,” said Fitzpatrick, “This letter to Senator Reid demonstrates the House’s commitment to fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities and placing our nation on the path to economic prosperity.”

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 The text of the letter is below:

Dear Leader Reid:

As the House of Representatives works through the Appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2012, we are encouraged by the progress that the House has made – both in the Appropriations Committee and on the House floor.  Unlike the 111th Congress, we have fulfilled our constitutional responsibilities by passing a budget, one that reduces spending, creates jobs, reins in cost-driving programs, and ultimately eliminates the debt. We have shown our strong commitment to set the nation’s course towards fiscal stability, and to do so in a responsible time frame.

 Yet, as we look ahead, we are deeply concerned with the lack of progress in the Senate.  As Majority Leader, you have not brought any of the appropriations bills passed by the House this year up for consideration. While the House is on track to complete all 12 appropriations bills prior to the start of the fiscal year on September 30, the Senate has failed to produce a budget or consider these appropriations bills, which will inevitably result in yet another Continuing Resolution– perhaps even the threat of a government shutdown that we experienced earlier this year.  Given that pervasive uncertainty is holding back job creation, we believe a change in your summer calendar is necessary. 

 As it stands now, the Senate will recess during the month of August and reconvene on September 6 - just over three weeks before the fiscal year begins. At the pace the Senate is progressing, this is not nearly enough time for Congress to consider and, ideally, pass the bills prior to the start of the fiscal year.  Therefore, we ask that you keep the Senate in session throughout August so that you can pass a budget and complete the pending appropriations bills sent to you from the House. We stand ready to stay in session if necessary.

While being with constituents is absolutely essential to providing effective representation, the profound fiscal challenges facing our country call for timely, decisive action.  The roadblock is clearly the Senate.  We encourage you to keep the Senate in session in August, which would show that the Senate schedule reflects the challenges facing our country.    It would also be a clear, and we believe, welcomed signal to the American people that the nation’s leaders are wisely leading America to a stronger fiscal path.


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