Today, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer confirmed that Congressional Democrats will not propose a budget for the coming fiscal year. This is the first time in modern history a budget has not been proposed, exposing the majority’s apathy for the growing spending burden it is placing on taxpayers.
In place of budgeting for Fiscal Year 2011, Hoyer announced Congress will leave the fiscal decisions up to the President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which is scheduled to meet next on June 30. The Commission, which the President is using to front tax increases that would stand in clear violation of his pledge to not raise taxes on those making less than $250,000, is expected to release a budget proposal in December. Hoyer’s decision, then, means Congress is giving itself a six month lease on unrestrained spending.
“Budgets should be used as tools to cut the government spending burden.” ATR President Grover Norquist said. “That Congress failed to use the FY2010 budget as such is hardly surprising. However, punting on the basic act of budgeting to the President’s unaccountable Commission is the epitome of failed leadership. This is more of the same from Democrats – paying lip service to fiscal prudence, but refusing to enact tough decisions when it counts.”
“Congress knows taxpayers are watching. Pretending it is the Commission’s job to budget instead of their own, the Democrats are trying to keep their fingerprints off of the massive spending that is driving this country into the ground. However, after two years of failed “stimulus” and bailouts, the American people know who to blame.”