Quincy Herald-Whig - Graves Links Budget Impasse, Federal Deficits

News Article

By Doug Wilson

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves expects that continuing resolutions will be passed by the Senate next month creating "a budget with no parameters."

During a town-hall style meeting at Ursa Farmers Coop on Thursday afternoon, Graves told constituents how federal deficits have ballooned in the years since the Senate passed a true budget. Since 2009 every deficit has exceeded $1 trillion, Graves said.

The Congressional Budget Office reports that the deficit should be $845 billion in the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.

"We don't have a revenue problem. It's a spending problem," Graves said.

"How would you like to operate this business without a budget?" Graves asked the Ursa Farmers Coop managers.

Continuing resolutions rely on lump sum funding that goes to agencies. Line item oversight is not possible.

Graves said use of continuing resolutions is a strategy used by the Senate's Democratic leaders to avoid conference committee negotiations with Republicans who hold a majority in the House.

Graves expressed other concerns about recent practices in Congress.

"I am very much in favor of earmark reform, but not a total ban on earmarks. All that does is tie our hands," Graves said.

He explained that the ban on earmarks has stalled the Federal Highway Bill and funding for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

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