David Minge: “It is now September 10, and we still do not have a budget resolution which is available to guide this body or Congress…”

“It is now September 10, and we still do not have a budget resolution which is available to guide this body or Congress in the allocation of our Nation's resources. That budget resolution was due April 15. We are now approaching 5 months, 5 months overdue, and the question is how can we responsibly make decisions in the appropriations process? How can we plan to use what might possibly be a surplus, even if we back out what we are borrowing from the Social Security trust fund here in this 1997-1998 fiscal year and the next fiscal year? How can we responsibly determine what our Nation's priorities are when we are proceeding on an ad hoc basis? Mr. Speaker, we have proceeded under the Budget Act for many years, and to the best of my knowledge this is the first time. Mr. Speaker, the question is how can we responsibly proceed when we are almost 5 months past the due date for a budget resolution? I think that this is a tragic situation. It is a situation that cries out for action. It cries out for leadership.”