[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9261]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER

  (Mr. THORNBERRY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, for the first time since the modern 
Budget Act was passed in 1974, the House will not pass a budget this 
year, for the first time in 35 years.
  This dereliction of duty is important for at least two reasons: One, 
a budget is the first and necessary step to control spending. Every 
household in the country knows that you have to get a budget together 
to know your income and expenses, to separate priorities, and to decide 
how you're going to spend precious resources. The same is true in 
Washington. And yet this year the American people and Congress and the 
administration will not have the opportunity to use that tool.
  The second reason is that it just confirms the worst that people feel 
about Washington. People around the country already believe that too 
many Members of Congress care more about their own re-election than 
they do about solving the problems of the country. This just confirms 
that Members of the majority, at least, don't want to take tough votes, 
that they're more worried about their own political protection than 
they are about trying to do what's right and solve problems.
  Mr. Speaker, it is irresponsible to not even try to pass a budget 
this year. The American people deserve better.

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