The Do Nothing Congress: Leadership Abandons Budget Process
The Do Nothing Congress: Leadership Abandons Budget Process
The House of Representatives has “abandoned” its efforts to reach an agreement on a budget. The members are instead going home for a two-week break.
In one sense it’s a good thing. The Bush-inspired budget under consideration — which “reject[ed] the administration’s call to cut Medicare spending while endorsing its proposal to cut much of the rest of the budget” — sets the wrong priorities for the nation. The House’s budget was generally based on Bush’s proposal that underfunded health, education, and national investments. Even so, since it included more tax cuts, it would have added $3 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years.
But passing a budget is one of the most fundamental congressional duties. Failure to set an annual budget is a gross negligence of their public responsibility and an “embarrassment to a new Republican leadership.” This leaves the Congress with “deficits on the rise and no plan in place to contain them.”
Average Americans aren’t allowed to drop their work and go on vacation — lawmakers shouldn’t be any different.
- John Irons
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48 Responses to “The Do Nothing Congress: Leadership Abandons Budget Process”
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If they keep this up, Pee Wee Herman could run for President on the Democratic ticket and win.
April 7th, 2006 at 4:50 pm"Average Americans aren’t allowed to drop their work and go on vacation — lawmakers shouldn’t be any different."
I beg to differ. I can't stomach any more of the Congressional leadership.
Go ahead... take the rest of the session off!
April 7th, 2006 at 4:54 pmAverage Americans are ALWAYS free to just drop their work and go on vacation, but when they return, they might just find that they no longer have a JOB. Impeach, try for war crimes.
April 7th, 2006 at 5:04 pmWOOHOO! I'm not Average!
*Stuck in Iraq via US Army stop-loss policy, second tour*
April 7th, 2006 at 5:07 pmUnder the presidents logic that whatever he does in prosecuting the war on terror is by definition legal, why can't he go and make up his own budget and do his line item veto all in the name of fighting terrorism? Why does he even need a congress?
April 7th, 2006 at 5:08 pmI think it would be a motivation for those in Congress if there was a rule that said you must finish the business at hand BEFORE running off to break. Things might actually get done. Maybe that rule exists, but is being ignored. Wouldn't surprise me.
I need a large margarita.
April 7th, 2006 at 5:12 pmPee Wee Herman could run for President on the Democratic ticket and win.
Comment by unbelievable — April 7, 2006 @ 4:50 pm
He ran for the Republican ticket and won in 2004... that would explain the failed policies of this administration at all levels.
April 7th, 2006 at 5:14 pm#4 - Sorry you're stuck over there. Stay safe.
April 7th, 2006 at 5:15 pmDo not compare those overpriced whiny bastards to me, or any other average american, they are definately sub par!!!!
April 7th, 2006 at 5:18 pmDo not compare those overpriced whiny bastards to me, or any other average american, they are definately sub par!!!!
April 7th, 2006 at 5:18 pmHe ran for the Republican ticket and won in 2004… that would explain the failed policies of this administration at all levels.
Comment by Gregor Samsa — April 7, 2006 @ 5:14 pm
You got me there. Indeed it would. Now if we can just get him to leave the Big Top... and the job to a real leader.
April 7th, 2006 at 5:19 pm(sorry to stutter)
April 7th, 2006 at 5:20 pm*Stuck in Iraq via US Army stop-loss policy, second tour*
Comment by L.J. Abershawe — April 7, 2006 @ 5:07 pm
So much for that all volunteer military.
How are things over there? You guys do know that we supoprt you, right?
April 7th, 2006 at 5:21 pmThe House of Representatives has “abandoned†its efforts to reach an agreement on a budget. The members are instead going home for a two-week break.
Average Americans aren’t allowed to drop their work and go on vacation — lawmakers shouldn’t be any different.
- John Irons
Nonsense, I say give them all the summer off. They can't fuck up too much if they're all at Ted Kennedy's getting loaded.
April 7th, 2006 at 5:27 pmI think it would be a motivation for those in Congress if there was a rule that said you must finish the business at hand BEFORE running off to break. Things might actually get done. Maybe that rule exists, but is being ignored. Wouldn’t surprise me.
I need a large margarita.
Comment by Zookeeper
I'm with you. My head is about to explode.
April 7th, 2006 at 5:28 pmThis ineptitude is astounding.
good thing the republicans are in charge.
April 7th, 2006 at 5:30 pmKrazny,
MizzWrong is typical of the unaccountable and irresponsible republicans and/or christians. They always blame others for attacking them, and for their own failures no matter how much they're in charge. It's part of the psychotic response that results from a persecution complex and psychotic paranoia. They're just a bunch of crazies.
April 7th, 2006 at 5:44 pmNonsense, I say give them all the summer off. They can’t fuck up too much if they’re all at Ted Kennedy’s getting loaded.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — April 7, 2006 @ 5:27 pm
good thing the republicans are in charge.
Comment by Krazny
Correct, Krazny,
It's the Repub's that are in charge, so this failure is THEIRS and theirs alone.
April 7th, 2006 at 5:59 pmBTW, do you know what they are trying to say now?
They are saying it's because we persecuted Tom Delay. He's not there so it's really the Dem's fault.
Idiots.
HAAAAA!
April 7th, 2006 at 6:00 pmI just scrolled down and saw the same story I heard!
Sorry for the repeat of news!!!
AS MUCH AS THEY'D LIKE TO, THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP CAN'T DEFER THE BUDGET UNTIL AFTER NOVEMBER.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR CRAZY SPENDING SOONER OR LATER. THEY'LL EITHER MAKE CUTS THAT WILL KILL THEM IN NOVEMBER, OR THEY WON'T MAKE CUTS AND THE ECONOMY WILL KILL THEM IN NOVEMBER.
THE BILL COLLECTOR HAS ARRIVED.
April 7th, 2006 at 6:25 pmI also think criminals don't get a retirement package like DeLay will. I knew there was bad stuff going on in the Bush administration, but I think they have surpassed what I thought was being done. I didn't realize there are so many ways to destroy our country (and I'm 66 years old and don't get fooled easily anymore).
April 7th, 2006 at 6:31 pmDamn, I should run for Congress as a Republican. It's like all-day vacation, every day! And the benefits, my God, the benefits!
April 7th, 2006 at 7:02 pmThey're making a genuine attempt to try and humor the good citizens of America.
Maybe they are and maybe they aren't.
You have got to give them credit for trying.
They have made laughingstock of themselves, so they might just succeed.
Budget? What budget? We don't need no stinking budget.
"Budget schmudget! Who cares if we have any money or not? This governing stuff is fun. The American citizens can pay for it all, so what does it matter?" - supposedly stated by George Bush while in the Oval Office late this afternoon
April 7th, 2006 at 7:05 pmAren't these the guys who give themselves regular pay raises, while simultaneously cutting back the days they are in session?
April 7th, 2006 at 7:27 pmHere's something the Democrats can run on in November - no more pay raises for Congress until the budget deficit is gone.
April 7th, 2006 at 8:26 pmLike everyone else, I have my hopes up for democratic success in the November elections. But, I think we are being too optimistic.
The pukes have a ton of money. McCain is relaxing his bill to let the pukes spend all they want from his trademark legislation.
That this means that in every congressional district the puke running in the race will not have to do any campaigning, he will be handed all the money he or she wants or needs.
The dems will just have to slog along as best they can. This is a terrible disadvantage for dem candidates all across the country, unless they are independently wealthy.
It would be nice if the pukes could be convinced to bankrupt their treasury, and the dems still won the house.
Dont bet on it though.
April 7th, 2006 at 8:32 pmFailure to set an annual budget is a gross negligence of their public responsibility
This rhet is a little over the top. They have until the Fall to pass a budget for the next fiscal year.
Let's not start sounding like Republicans, ok?
April 7th, 2006 at 8:33 pmLike everyone else, I have my hopes up for democratic success in the November elections. But, I think we are being too optimistic.
The pukes have a ton of money. McCain is relaxing his bill to let the pukes spend all they want from his trademark legislation.
That this means that in every congressional district the puke running in the race will not have to do any FUNDRAISING, he will be handed all the money he or she wants or needs.
The dems will just have to slog along as best they can. This is a terrible disadvantage for dem candidates all across the country, unless they are independently wealthy.
It would be nice if the pukes could be convinced to bankrupt their treasury, and the dems still won the house.
Dont bet on it though.
April 7th, 2006 at 8:36 pmThis rhet is a little over the top. They have until the Fall to pass a budget for the next fiscal year.
--Disputo
Good point. I'd rather see them take that long, rather than just blast this piece of crap through. IMO, this budget needs to be rewritten from the ground up.
--
April 7th, 2006 at 9:01 pmhttp://griperblade.blogspot.com - Grumblings from the heartland
They are lost without thier "moral" compASS Delay.....suprise. It would be funny, if it weren't so tragic.
April 7th, 2006 at 9:09 pm#4,
April 7th, 2006 at 10:00 pmStay safe. Get home soon - we're doing what we can.
Think about the cycles and the set-up. Democrats have been labled "tax-and-spend liberals" and have allowed that label to stick, while the Republicans maintain they are fiscally conservative and support smaller government and less taxes.
Yet it has been the fiscally conservative Republican administrations which have ballooned the national deficit and debt, leaving it to subsequent Democrat administrations to act with financial responsibility.
Reagan did help bring down the Soviet Union by outspending them in military spending, running record deficits in the process. It wasn't until Clinton came along that the budget got under control, changing from deficit spending to actually generating a surplus and began paying down the national debt.
Six years later, and the budget is not only breaking all records in deficit spending, but major items like the cost of the war ARE NOT EVEN INCLUDED!!!
If and when the Democrats finally regain control of the government, the financial state of the Union will be so burdened by debt that the only responsible course of action will be to raise taxes. Even so, many social programs will be crippled, all to pay the principle and interest on Bush's War and the tax break that predominantly benefited the ruling class.
Our great-great grandchildren will pay the price that this regime has exacted from the American public and funneled into the hands of the war profiteers.
April 7th, 2006 at 10:00 pmThis pathetic congress is following the lead of the prez. He takes his vacations no matter what is happening.
April 7th, 2006 at 10:07 pmThe public is growing more angry and frustrated - and probably the Dems will have power in the fall, BUT to ensure that happening, the Dems should vow to take fewer days off and freeze all pay hikes until the budget deficits begin to reverse.
Such an item on their platform, spoken by all of them, will be a sure winner with the rest of us who actually have to work for a living, get two weeks off if we're lucky, and have seen "real" income reduced over recent years.
We all know the perks they get, they don't need more vacation time. A week for St. Patrick's Day? Two weeks for Easter? They have to visit their constituencies but this is counter productive.
#33 free dumb
April 7th, 2006 at 10:10 pmWe were typing at the same time, with similar messages!
The Congress has become a giant joke > they no longer do anything for average Americans, but will do anything for the Corporate Elite and the Oil Cartel CEOs! The Republican leaders of the House and Senate should remain on vacation and never return to DC because they are just Bush loving fools! Americans must vote out all those in DC who only care about themselves! Get rid of Sen. Joe Lieberman and Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska > both are phony Democrats!
April 7th, 2006 at 10:11 pmMarie, "They have to visit their constituencies but this is counter productive."
If PRO is the opposite of CON,
What is the opposite of PROGRESS???
;-)
April 7th, 2006 at 10:50 pm#37
April 7th, 2006 at 10:53 pmGood play on words. ;-)
"If and when the Democrats finally regain control of the government, the financial state of the Union will be so burdened by debt that the only responsible course of action will be to raise taxes. Even so, many social programs will be crippled, all to pay the principle and interest on Bush’s War and the tax break that predominantly benefited the ruling class.Comment by Briseadh na Faire"
Exactly the plan of PNAC. They've wanted to throw the baby out with the bathwater for years, and prefer to destroy and bankrupt the nation rather than have a functional social services network. They're no different than terrorists who plant dirty bombs - their dirty bomb is just economic. Reichwingers are innate terrorists whether they're islamo or christo terrorists.
April 8th, 2006 at 12:38 amGOP means Greed, Oil, Perverts! Someday the Republican Party will be outlawed like the Nazi Party in Germany! People like I-R-I most likely will be put into insane asylums to prevent them from hurting other people and themselves! The Bush family might end up being sent into exile and never allowed into the United States ever again! Neocons will be deported to Israel and that nation will be considered a terrorist state! This is our future if we survive Dubya's nuclear WWIII on the Middle East?!
April 8th, 2006 at 1:59 amThe United States Congress is STEALING our tax dollars for the enhancement of their own personal wealth...
...they probably figure like this:
"If Bushiva, L'il Dick, the oil and gas gods, and defense contractors can make a killing...
...then why can't we (the Congress)?"...
...this NYT article is about a W. Va. Democrat (Mollohan) whose personal wealth has taken a stunning turn- a' la Duke Cunningham- in direct proportion to his earmarking activities of the last few years...
...the article is very eye opening in terms of how much MORE money is being "earmarked" (stolen) than in previos years...(from $32.9 to $64 billion)...
...read the excerpt below:
"The earmarking occurred as an abundance of local projects was added to spending bills outside the normal budget review, from $32.9 billion in 2000 to $64 billion in 2006, the Congressional Research Service said. Although it is impossible to trace individual earmarks for certain, an analysis by Citizens Against Government Waste, a Washington watchdog, found $480 million added in the House or in conference committees, most likely by Mr. Mollohan, for his district since 1995. That sum helped West Virginia rank fourth on the watchdog list — $131.58 for each of the 1.8 million West Virginians this year."
-NYT-
The question is...
...what are we going to do about it?
April 8th, 2006 at 9:16 amIf PRO is the opposite of CON,
What is the opposite of PROGRESS???
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — April 7, 2006 @ 10:50 pm
That's clever! And unfortunately true...
April 8th, 2006 at 9:28 am14. Nonsense, I say give them all the summer off. They can’t fuck up too much if they’re all at Ted Kennedy’s getting loaded.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — April 7, 2006 @ 5:27 pm
How many vacations has Bush taken since he's been in office? And he's managed to do plenty of damage while out to lunch. Speaking of loaded, how much medication is Bush on?
What do you get when you cross fetal alcohol syndrome with an amphetamine habit during pregnancy? (see above)
At any rate, before its all said and done, Ted Kennedy's fecal matter will still smell better than Bush's breath on his best day.
April 8th, 2006 at 9:33 amBush's Defense Department name must be changed to Orwell's War Department! United States name changed to Oceania and Middle East changed to EastAsia! The whole 1984 book has come to pass, so might as well name everything from the book > Big Brother Bush and the Department of Love/Torture! FOX News can run the 5 minutes of hate segments with Osama as Goldstein! What a sick world we all live in now!
April 8th, 2006 at 12:28 pmGlad to hear someone else is asking how these dweebs in Washington can take breaks at the most critical times--this is a topic I've been harping on since the Bolton nomination (remember that?)--most recently, in my "Holiday to Hell" piece.
April 9th, 2006 at 9:55 amThere should be a way to lock them out of the White House and the Capitol. Too bad.
April 9th, 2006 at 3:02 pmEmployers do it to dismissed employees all the time. Although I believe this 'hiring' can be blamed on the Supreme Court.
April 9th, 2006 at 3:05 pmIt drives me up a wall to see this type of BS, when I need to finish something at work, I stay f'n late! How much vacation do they get in the course of a year? I think it is in the "months" not weeks and is rediculous considering the pay (and payoffs)
Impeach BUSH
I like #42's point on progress vs. congress! : )
April 18th, 2006 at 4:20 pmVacation Rental Travel Search Engines Costa Rica Travel
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
April 11th, 2008 at 6:27 am