Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after voting against a budget bill in the US House of Representatives. Larsen voted against the Government Prevention Shutdown Act of 2011 because the bill violates the constitutional provision of passing the Senate and being signed by the President before becoming a law. Larsen did vote to cut off pay for Members of Congress in the event of a government shutdown.
"Today, the new majority is doing something so blatantly unconstitutional, it's laughable: they are trying to pass a budget bill into law without being voted on by the Senate or signed by the President.
"My advice to the Republican Leadership is to reread their copies of the Constitution. Article 1, Section 7, Clause 2 which states "Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States ' should be particularly helpful.
"Or, if they can't find a copy of the Constitution, "Schoolhouse Rock' provides some helpful information about how a bill becomes a law. I suggest they check out the video before trying to make any more laws without the Senate and the President."