America Needs a Budget, but Target Dems Vote for…What, Exactly?

July 1, 2010

FYI, a version of the release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04); Michael Arcuri (NY-24); John Barrow (GA-12); Sanford Bishop (GA-02); Tim Bishop (NY-01); Leonard Boswell (IA-03); Rick Boucher (VA-09); Dennis Cardoza (CA-18); Russ Carnahan (MO-03); Chris Carney (PA-10); Ben Chandler (KY-06); Gerry Connolly (VA-11); Jim Costa (CA-20); Joe Courtney (CT-02); Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03); Lincoln Davis (TN-04); Chet Edwards (TX-17); Bob Etheridge (NC-02); John Hall (NY-19); Martin Heinrich (NM-01); Baron Hill (IN-09); Tim Holden (PA-17); Rush Holt (NJ-12); Steve Kagen (WI-08); Paul Kanjorski (PA-11); Marcy Kaptur (OH-09); Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15); Ron Kind (WI-03); Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01); Larry Kissell (NC-08); Ron Klein (FL-22); Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24); Rick Larsen (WA-02); Dave Loebsack (IA-02); Betsy Markey (CO-04); Jim Matheson (UT-02); Mike McIntyre (NC-07); Michael McMahon (NY-13); Jerry McNerney (CA-11); Patrick Murphy (PA-08); Bill Owens (NY-23); Ed Perlmutter (CO-07); Nick Rahall (WV-03); Mike Ross (AR-04); Loretta Sanchez (CA-47); Mark Schauer (MI-07); John Spratt (SC-05); Betty Sutton (OH-13); Harry Teague (NM-02); Tim Walz (MN-01); David Wu (OR-01); and John Yarmuth (KY-03).

America Needs a Budget, but Edwards Votes for…What, Exactly?
Texas Democrat Backs Empty Scheme to Continue Washington’s Runaway Spending Spree

Washington- With America facing a looming crisis thanks to out-of-control government spending, Texas taxpayers looked to Chet Edwards to provide the leadership necessary to restore fiscal sanity in Washington. Instead they got a cop-out from Edwards, who backed a sham maneuver that fails to present a budget blueprint – let alone a path back to a sustainable fiscal future. (House Roll Call 428)

“The rule for the supplemental is expected to include budget legislation that would deem the FY11 discretionary funding level and other fiscal provisions.

“Republicans argue that the Democrats budget package is significantly less than a full five-year budget resolution and accuse the majority of abdicating a basic responsibility.” (Billy House and Humberto Sanchez, “Hoyer: Votes on Supplemental By Friday,” CongressDaily, 6/29/10)

As Democrats fail to do the job of governing, their words are coming back to haunt them. Just a few short years ago, party leaders called budgeting one of the most fundamental duties of the majority party:

In 2006, as Democrats were pushing to take control of the House and Republicans were hamstrung by their own budget woes, [Spratt] said: “If you can’t budget, you can’t govern.” (Jonathan Allen, “Budget Looms Over Midterm Elections,” Politico, 5/10/10)

“Boehner dug up an old quote from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) who previously said the ‘most basic responsibility of governing is to pass a budget.'” (Jake Sherman, “John Boehner Slams ‘Inability to Govern,” Politico, 5/13/10)

Now they’re running for political cover from an agenda of runaway spending, record-high debt, and exploding deficits. With the nation’s chief economist calling the country’s fiscal path “unsustainable,” it’s time for action. Unfortunately, Edwards has failed to deliver once again:

“Congress will not pass a budget resolution this year because the issue of the soaring national debt hangs over every policy debate in Washington, House Majority Steny Hoyer said today, and it will be impossible to pass a realistic long-term budget until the nation’s structural deficit is addressed.” (Stephanie Condon, “Hoyer: No Budget Resolution This Year Because of Deficit Concerns,” CBS News, 6/22/10)

“While families and businesses across Texas are forced to stick to a budget in order to make ends meet, Chet Edwards apparently doesn’t believe the federal government should behave the same way,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Unemployment remains unacceptably high and the deficit is out of control, but all Edwards can do is give his party leaders the green light to continue their spending spree. Democrats squandered a chance to provide the fiscal discipline that is needed to create jobs, instead choosing to continue spending taxpayer money with no accountability. While this might pass as business as usual in Washington, Edwards will be forced to answer to the Texas taxpayers whose children and grandchildren will be stuck paying for this cynical political maneuver.”

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