Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, where is the budget? Congress is expected to agree on a budget for the upcoming fiscal year by April 15. The budget process at the beginning of each year sets the goals regarding total Federal spending for the year. It is the budget that sets the stage for how fiscally responsible government spending will be. Since the passage of the Budget Act of 1974, the House of Representatives has never failed to pass an initial budget to set the spending priorities for the following fiscal year. Not this year. We are now a month past the deadline, and Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic leadership are showing no signs of complying with the law and coming forward with a budget for fiscal year 2011. In 2006, Congressman Steny Hoyer, who is now the House majority leader, was quoted as saying, Enacting a budget was ``the most basic responsibility of governing,'' and Congressman John Spratt, who is now the chairman of the House Budget Committee said, ``If you can't budget, you can't govern.'' While I understand that the Congress has the power to name public buildings and post offices, I believe that setting a budget, allowing the government to live within its means, is more important than passing ceremonial resolutions. With total public debt rising to nearly $13 trillion, according to the Bureau of Public Debt, Congress' priority should remain focused on getting our fiscal house in order.…”