Congress Has Only One Constitutional Duty, and This Year, They Failed

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Economic Uncertainty Aggravated by Missing 2011 Budget

Somebody buy Congress a calendar. Another deadline is about to go whooshing by -- this time, over the budget.

With Congress not returning to session until Monday, only 17 days remain before the new budget year starts -- too short a window to pass the 12 spending bills needed to keep government operating past the Sept. 30 end of the current fiscal year.

So far, Congress has only passed two spending bills while funding for the U.S. military, homeland security, diplomatic and development missions, the judicial branch among other critical government functions, all hang in the balance.

As in previous years, that means Congress will be forced to pass at least one "continuing resolution" to prevent a federal shutdown and continue operating at the 2010 budget level, which is on track to record a $1.3 trillion deficit, the second highest deficit -- relative to gross domestic product -- in 65 years. The highest deficit was in 2009.

"The Democrats' inability to pass a budget or get spending under control is an indictment of their leadership and a symptom of why Congress has not been able to get its fiscal house in order and get the economy moving forward," said Ken Spain, communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

"We are now a month away from the end of the fiscal year and the Democrat Congress has failed to complete the most basic duty of governing -- passing a budget and bills to fund the operations of government," said Jennifer Hing, spokeswoman for Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., the top Republican on the House Appropriations Committee.

"The American people are clearly angry at the fiscal irresponsibility of Speaker Pelosi and her colleagues, and will no doubt have their voices heard at the polls come November," Hing said.

Democratic lawmakers are not overly concerned about not having a budget in place, and didn't pass a resolution -- usually scheduled for a vote in April -- to give them a guidepost for the year. That is tradition though not required by law. It was the fifth year since 1974 that a budget resolution blueprint hasn't been passed.

Masked by the failure to produce a budget are realistic expectations for revenues and expenses for the coming year. Though the president offers his budget proposal in February for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, income and outlays continue to move up and down through supplemental requests and changing revenue projections.

With the administration looking at additional spending proposals -- that are not on-budget, but which the president pledges will be paid for -- Republicans say don't expect to see any 2011 outline any time soon.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/10/economic-uncertainty-aggravated-missing-budget/

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

anyone surprised?

[Ban Hammer 13,469]

anyone surprised?

[DEDixon 39]

i feel a little guilty hoping the economy doesn't improve enough for O to get a 2nd term.

[evli1966 88]

i feel a little guilty hoping the economy doesn't improve enough for O to get a 2nd term.

I do not think an improved economy will get him a 2nd term.

He has shot himself in the foot taking for the handling of the BP incident and castrated himself with his Illegal Alien Policies.

[DEDixon 39]

do you think he'll get the nomination to run?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

do you think he'll get the nomination to run?

Not if Hillary makes her move.

[luckytxn 2,265]

I am hoping that the budget stays in stalemate for so long that the Government comes to a screeching halt.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

anyone surprised?

I'm surprised to hear they have only one Constitutional duty.

[evli1966 88]

I'm surprised to hear they have only one Constitutional duty.

True but have they succeed in any of their duties?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I'm surprised to hear they have only one Constitutional duty.

They have lots of powers, but only one duty: To fund the operation of government.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

they'll just 'deem' a budget passed as it works out best for them.

See the 'dirty' little secret here is, is when the Democrats lose their majority come November, they are going to pass/push through A LOT of legislation/spending bills that will take effect when Republicans take over... It will make it look like the Republicans screwed the pooch instead of the Dems and will be a way for the Dems to be like, 'see, they screwed us in less than 2 years, put us back.'