[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3625-H3626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          WHERE'S THE BUDGET?

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, where is the budget? Congress is 
expected to agree on a budget for the upcoming fiscal year by April 15. 
The budget process at the beginning of each year sets the goals 
regarding total Federal spending for the year. It is the budget that 
sets the stage for how fiscally responsible government spending will 
be.
  Since the passage of the Budget Act of 1974, the House of 
Representatives has never failed to pass an initial budget to set the 
spending priorities for the following fiscal year. Not this year. We 
are now a month past the deadline, and Speaker Pelosi and the 
Democratic leadership are showing no signs of complying with the law 
and coming forward with a budget for fiscal year 2011. In 2006, 
Congressman Steny Hoyer, who is now the House majority leader, was 
quoted as saying, Enacting a budget was ``the most basic responsibility 
of governing,'' and Congressman John Spratt, who is now the chairman of 
the House Budget Committee said, ``If you can't budget, you can't 
govern.''
  While I understand that the Congress has the power to name public 
buildings and post offices, I believe that setting a budget, allowing 
the government to live within its means, is more important than passing 
ceremonial resolutions. With total public debt rising to nearly $13 
trillion, according to the Bureau of Public Debt, Congress' priority 
should remain focused on getting our fiscal house in order. Families 
and small businesses all across our Nation understand what it means to 
make tough decisions each day about what they can and cannot afford. 
They understand the importance of creating and living by a budget. 
Unfortunately, instead of making the tough choices necessary to reduce 
spending, the majority in Congress has decided to forgo a budget 
altogether. Just 4 years ago, the same leaders who are now shirking 
their responsibility and choosing to move forward without a budget were 
very clear on how important the budget process is to the operation of 
the Federal Government.
  Madam Speaker, where's the budget? Without the passage of a Federal 
budget, the reckless spending that has run rampant in Congress will 
only continue. We have already seen the passage--without my support--of 
the so-called economic stimulus legislation which was supposed to put 
Americans back to work. Not only did the stimulus legislation fail to 
create jobs, but

[[Page H3626]]

it is now estimated to be costing American taxpayers over $1 trillion 
including interest. Not only should Congress produce a budget, but I am 
a strong supporter of several measures that promote the establishment 
of a balanced budget and the elimination of wasteful government 
programs, including a constitutional amendment that I introduced which 
requires the Federal Government to balance its budget. Congress must 
steadfastly hold the line on government spending, which is why I have 
consistently voted for the tightest budgets offered each year. But 
maybe not this year. No budget is offered.
  As elected officials and stewards of the taxpayers' money, we have a 
responsibility to put together a sustainable budget and stick to it. 
The Congress must continue to work to rein in spending and put to 
practice a spending approach that many Americans already live by: If 
you don't have it, don't spend it.
  Madam Speaker, where's the budget?

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