The U.S. Senate: 1,111 Days of Irresponsibility

Statement

The United States Senate has not passed a budget in 1,111 days. In fact, the last time the Senate passed a budget, the original iPad was still a year away from release.

U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) is once again calling on U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to show leadership and exercise his position of authority within the Senate to persuade Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) to put a budget plan to a vote within his committee. Conrad is on record stating that the Senate is not likely to pass a budget before the 2012 election.

"It's time to lead and put party lines aside," Schilling said. "We passed a budget in the House--we did our job. Now the Senate must act responsibly and follow suit. The Reid-Durbin-Conrad plan of inaction is no way to run a government. It's time for us to work together, not as Republicans or Democrats thinking about an upcoming election, but as leaders focused on doing what's best for the American people."

Jon Schweppe, communications director at Bobby Schilling for Congress, said that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree when it comes to Senator Durbin and Alderwoman Cheri Bustos (D-East Moline).

"Much like her mentor Senator Durbin, Alderwoman Bustos has offered nothing as far as a plan to balance our federal budget," Schweppe said. "However, her record at East Moline speaks for itself. When Bustos quit her job in East Moline in order to pursue a run for Congress, she left an anticipated $1 million budget deficit. If Alderwoman Bustos couldn't handle money in East Moline, it's frightening to think what would happen if we let her play with a few extra zeroes in Washington."

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