Johanns Statement on 1,000th Day Without Budget

Statement

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) released the following statement on the 1,000th day since the Senate last passed a budget under Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.):

"Instead of continuing to spend borrowed money, Congress needs to do what Nebraska families do: make a budget and stick with it. Our national debt has increased by more than $4 trillion in the previous one thousand days -- a trend which will lead to certain crisis if allowed to continue -- but those in control of the Senate seem to have absolute disinterest in correcting course.

"Our country needs a budget that makes meaningful, responsible spending cuts and entitlement reform to get back on a path to balance it; yet our out-of-control spending remains on autopilot due to inaction. We need leadership and a willingness to make tough decisions, not another thousand days of kicking the can down the road for later generations to pick up."

The 1974 Congressional Budget Act calls for the Senate Budget Committee to report a budget resolution by April 1, and Congress to pass a budget by April 15. Until now, there had never been more than a one-year gap between budget resolutions; this year will likely be the third in a row.

Senate Democrats continue to neglect this duty:

* "To put other budgets out there is not the point," -- Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), 5/23/11

On April 29, 2009, the last time Senate Democrats proposed a budget on the floor of the Senate, the U.S. national debt was $11.2 trillion. Today it stands at $15.3 trillion, a 37 percent increase.

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