Mark Udall: “I think this resolution is accurate but misleading. The resolution says it's the desire of the House not to rely on…”

“I think this resolution is accurate but misleading. The resolution says it's the desire of the House not to rely on funds from the Social Security trust fund for extraneous purposes, and to continue to retire the publicly held federal debt. I think that's accurate, because that is the desire--at least the professed desire--of all or nearly all Members. Certainly it expresses my preference. However, it is misleading because it suggests that the House can escape arithmetic--and we can't. According to the Congressional Budget Office, some of all of the funds in question will end up being used for purposes other than those cited in this resolution. That's not all bad, in my opinion. Congress should respond to true emergencies, such as those experienced by the victims of hurricanes and floods, and to other crisis situations at home and abroad. But we should not try to mislead people about what is involved. We should be straightforward about our arithmetic, and not resort to phony bookkeeping devices such as pretending that the constitutionally required census is an unforeseen emergency.”