Victor Fazio: “the New York Times calls it budget bologna. The Washington Post dubs it budget theatrics. Even the Senate Budget…”

“the New York Times calls it budget bologna. The Washington Post dubs it budget theatrics. Even the Senate Budget Chairman Pete Domenici, our longtime Republican leader there, calls it a mockery. But no matter what it is labeled, the budget offered by the Republican leadership even at this late date is another example of their inability to conduct the Nation's business. As we have heard today, there is little appetite for a budget, even among many Republicans in this House and certainly in the Senate, that would wipe out the Energy and Commerce Departments, privatize the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, eliminate the Legal Services Corporation and AmeriCorps, the national service program, and abolish a tax break for low income couples without children. Although the outrage from the American public has forced retreat on some of these proposals, the latest offering from the Republican leadership continues to be unrealistic and radical. It deviates from last year's balanced budget plan so much so that Office of Management and Budget Director Frank Raines calls it a rank repudiation of the balanced budget agreement on which we shook hands just 1 year ago.”