On the recordApril 8, 2011
I can only imagine that the American people who are watching this drama unfold in Washington, DC, are scratching their heads and are confused, and are wondering why it is that Congress can't perform one of its most basic functions, which is to make sure that the government continues to operate. I am reminded of an adage from the days I practiced law, and then presided as a judge in the courtroom: If you can't convince them, confuse them. Whether it is inadvertently or intentionally or by mistake, I think there is a lot of confusion being encouraged and propagated on the floor. The fact of the matter is, there are three things we are talking about. One is the continuing resolution that the House of Representatives passed and sent over here some time ago, which would fund the Federal Government through the end of the fiscal year. That is one thing. There is a second thing, which is a bill sent over yesterday that would fund the government for 1 more week and the Department of Defense for the remainder of the fiscal year, which the majority leader has the power to bring to the floor today and have us vote on this afternoon or tonight. But the President of the United States has sent out a veto message saying he would veto it.…
