John Spratt: “I first encountered this thing we call a continuing resolution when I was a young officer in the Army working for the…”

“I first encountered this thing we call a continuing resolution when I was a young officer in the Army working for the Assistant Secretary of Defense Comptroller. I remember how it was explained to me then by the DOD's General Counsel. He said, in effect, the Congress is saying to us we have not got our job done, we are a little embarrassed, so just keep spending money at the level it is being spent until we can catch up and get things done right. This year, more than any year I have ever seen or known about, we are deficient in doing our job. Eleven out of 13 appropriation bills have not been passed. Let me just pick out four and point out to Members the consequences of having a continuing resolution in lieu of a properly worked appropriation bill. Veterans medical care. If Members are not aware that veterans are calling their district offices and saying they cannot get an appointment at veterans hospitals in less than 6 months, Members have not been talking to their staff. The Veterans Administration is overstretched, overcommitted, and we are not in this resolution providing them a dime more than they got last year to deal with a problem that is getting worse all the time.”