This website has been hugely critical of the fiscal policies of U.S. President Barack Obama and so-called “Republicans” in the U.S. House of Representatives – a shared failure which has resulted in an astronomical $16.6 trillion debt.
However to their credit, Obama and House “Republicans” have at least taken the time to draft – and publicly release – detailed budgets outlining their specific spending priorities.
Who hasn’t? The U.S. Senate.
As of this writing it’s been 1,415 days – or nearly four years – since the Senate last passed a budget.
Astounding isn’t it? As a result of this failure, the spending process in Washington, D.C. has totally broken down – turning into a unpredictable back-and-forth over irregularly timed “continuing resolutions” that aim to fund government for X or Y number of months at a time.
That process serves no one … except those who want to continue “kicking the can down the road” rather than taking a comprehensive look at what government should (and shouldn’t) be doing. It’s also a case study in the selective outrage of the liberal press … which continues to give the Democratic-led Senate a hall pass for failing to fulfill its most basic job responsibility.
Seriously, Senate … do your job!
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14 comments
If you think about, we have currently a Senator for President, Vice President, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense…so do you think they care?
If you think about, we have currently a Senator for President, Vice President, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense…so do you think they care?
You may get your wish soon:
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020543442_murraybudgetxml.html
I expect it to be just as flatly rejected by Republicans as Paul Ryan’s budget would be rejected by Democrats.
I doubt BigT will be happy about this, either.
While the article notes that Murray’s bill would shrink the $1.1 Trillion annual deficit, it fails to note that the annual deficit has already been shrinking under the current Obama administration.
I know! 1,415 days since BigT seen his cock…
You may get your wish soon:
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020543442_murraybudgetxml.html
I expect it to be just as flatly rejected by Republicans as Paul Ryan’s budget would be rejected by Democrats.
I doubt BigT will be happy about this, either.
While the article notes that Murray’s bill would shrink the $1.1 Trillion annual deficit, it fails to note that the annual deficit has already been shrinking under the current Obama administration.
I know! 1,415 days since BigT seen his cock…
The Senate is dysfunctional. Reform the filibuster and that will end. The current process gives too much power to the minority party to block legislation. However, as each party accepts they will be the minority at some point in the future, there is no impetus to change this problem.
That said, your premise is totally wrong. The failure of the Senate to produce a budget has been irrelevant. Prior to the last election, there was no middle ground to reach with the House Republicans. They were convinced Obama would not be reelected and their hard line, no compromise far right agenda would win the day at the polls. Until that theory was tested, any proposal from the other side would have been a total waste of time.
We just went through four years with a party whose only goal was to deny Obama a second term, and who mistakenly believed the American pubic was buying into their far right agenda. Post election they see at least part of their theory was flawed, so maybe now there is a reason to attempt negotiation. I am remain sceptical a middle ground is available. However, gridlock is not always bad. The annual deficit as a percentage of GDP continues to shrink as it has every year since 2009.
“Reform the filibuster and that will end.”
lol… Tell that to Harry Reid. :P
I agree neither side wants to reform the filibuster. But it should be reformed. As it is virtually everything the Senate does requires 61 votes.
The Senate is dysfunctional. Reform the filibuster and that will end. The current process gives too much power to the minority party to block legislation. However, as each party accepts they will be the minority at some point in the future, there is no impetus to change this problem.
That said, your premise is totally wrong. The failure of the Senate to produce a budget has been irrelevant. Prior to the last election, there was no middle ground to reach with the House Republicans. They were convinced Obama would not be reelected and their hard line, no compromise far right agenda would win the day at the polls. Until that theory was tested, any proposal from the other side would have been a total waste of time.
We just went through four years with a party whose only goal was to deny Obama a second term, and who mistakenly believed the American pubic was buying into their far right agenda. Post election they see at least part of their theory was flawed, so maybe now there is a reason to attempt negotiation. I am remain sceptical a middle ground is available. However, gridlock is not always bad. The annual deficit as a percentage of GDP continues to shrink as it has every year since 2009.
“Reform the filibuster and that will end.”
lol… Tell that to Harry Reid. :P
I agree neither side wants to reform the filibuster. But it should be reformed. As it is virtually everything the Senate does requires 61 votes.