Pete Domenici: “I wish to discuss not so much the amendment because I have explained why I do not think we should waive the Budget Act.…”

“I wish to discuss not so much the amendment because I have explained why I do not think we should waive the Budget Act. We have to do better in trying to put discipline into what is currently a totally undisciplined situation with reference to goals and priorities. Appropriations will have no responsibilities on the various bills. There will be no total dollar number that flows. This amendment will not help that. I close my few remarks talking about, once again, the mistake we are making--and we are making it for whatever reason--in not passing a budget resolution. I am not filled with acrimony, but I do believe that in the over 27 years of serving, I felt a responsibility to get a budget, and actually we could have gotten a corner after an extremely tough year 3 years ago and said: Let's not do it. The Senator from New Hampshire could have been with me trying to keep discipline in this process. We could have said: Let's not do a budget resolution. It did some good.”