On the recordJuly 18, 2012
that is an easy question to answer. We already have a budget. We passed, in August of last year, a budget that took effect for the last fiscal year and this fiscal year. It set numbers--302(b) numbers, in effect. There was no need for a budget this year. We already had one. So the hue and cry of my Republicans friends that we need to have a budget is just a lot of talk. We already have a budget. Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I would say to my friend the majority leader, he knows the Parliamentarian disagrees with his view that we already have a budget. But let us assume for the sake of discussion we do have a budget. Then I would ask my friend the majority leader why we haven't passed a single appropriations bill?
