On the recordFebruary 2, 2012
Americans deserve a genuine and predictable government that shoots straight. As Thomas Jefferson wrote: ``The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest.'' How can the people hold their Representative accountable when Congress and the President distort the basic facts? Many of my colleagues and I are dismayed by the dysfunction in the process. We have seen firsthand the insider tricks and schemes to distort the budget and hide new spending. We've learned that these loopholes are deeply ingrained in the rules of Congress--they are institutionalized--and both Republicans and Democrats are guilty of exploiting them. The American people have a right to expect accountability, honesty, and transparency from their government. But every year Washington relies on a series of budget gimmicks and accounting tricks to conceal or enable deficit spending. With our Nation's debt nearing $16 trillion, Washington must drop the budget games and commit to honest budget practices. Many of us believe we were sent here to Washington to do things differently and to insist on an honest and transparent government. {time} 1100 That's why I, earlier this week, along with 28 of my colleagues, introduced the Honest Budget Act of 2012, an important step to change the way Washington works and instill integrity into the budget process.…
