Bob Menendez: “we would not have Members who feel they are oppressed if we had rules that permitted full and free debate in the…”

“we would not have Members who feel they are oppressed if we had rules that permitted full and free debate in the greatest democracy in the world. We go abroad, sending our troops to promote democracy, but we cannot seem to have a modicum of comity and democracy here in the House of Representatives. This conference report on the budget was filed this morning at 6:20 a.m., less than 5 hours ago. The Nation's budget, multi-trillion dollar budget filed 5 hours ago, and we do not even have a chance to review it. Under the Republican leadership, this budget resolution is, and the entire budget process has become, a complete fraud on the American people. Just like the way they have covered up the cost of the Iraq war and the Medicare prescription drug bill, with this budget congressional Republicans are trying to hide not only the true costs of making the tax cuts permanent, but also the huge size of the rapidly exploding deficit. And instead of giving us an opportunity to debate and vote separately on raising the Nation's debt limit for the third straight year by almost $700 billion this year alone, the Republicans have included that increase under the cover of all of these other shenanigans in this budget resolution. So let us be clear so when Members come to the floor representing their constituencies, they understand a vote for this budget resolution is a vote to increase the debt ceiling of the United States to over $8 trillion. Yes, I said $8 trillion.”