[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10688]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        THE U.S. NEEDS A BUDGET

  (Mr. SMITH of Nebraska asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, at its most fundamental level, 
the duty of Congress is to steward the tax revenue. Lately, all 
Congress has been doing is spending it. Through the first 8 months of 
the current fiscal year, the Federal Government amassed $941 billion in 
deficit spending. Every penny of debt accumulated must be paid for by 
our children and grandchildren. Without a budget, the only spending 
rule is, there are no rules.
  The deadline for the House of Representatives to pass an actual 
budget has come and passed, and we still have nothing to show the 
American people. The budget process can be frustrating, but that's what 
we're here to do, to make the tough decisions. Families, small 
businesses, cities and States have to put together a budget. Congress 
must do the same for our country. We need a practical, workable Federal 
budget which restrains spending and puts us on a path to solvency, 
economic growth and prosperity.

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