Senator Jeff Sessions Comments On House Effort To Force Senate Majority To Comply With Budget Law
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: January 21, 2013
U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member
of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement today
regarding the House's effort to compel the Senate Majority to comply
with federal budget statute:
"Speaker
Boehner and his House Republicans are exactly right
to insist that the Democratic Senate fulfill its moral responsibility
and statutory duty to produce a budget, joined with a sustained effort
to cut spending and move our nation towards a balanced budget.
Secret
deals have not worked and are an affront to popular
democracy. The right process is the regular order. The House produces
its budget--as it has--and the Senate passes its budget, all in accordance
with the Budget Act of 1974. Under that law, the Senate Budget
Committee must approve a budget resolution by April
1st. From there, the law requires the budget to be considered on the
Senate floor where it must receive 50 hours of open amendment and
debate. A budget cannot be filibustered and is adopted by a simple
majority in both committee and the full Senate.
Then,
once the issues and differences are clarified by this
open process, the work of conferencing must begin. It will not be easy
because the challenge is great--and has become greater each year as a
result of inaction by the Senate.
The House has reached a historic and important decision.
They know they cannot negotiate with the Democratic Senate if the Senate won't even set forth a proposal.
The House must succeed in its effort to force an end to the
Senate Majority's lawlessness. Theirs is a plan for an open and public process and for the financial security of America.
The
House must be steadfast. It is unthinkable that Senator
Reid and Chairman Murray would put the nation through turmoil because
they refuse to do their moral and statutory duty to produce a budget.
The House must be clear and firm. Otherwise, the Senate leadership will
once again maneuver around their plain duty.
Yet if the House is resolute, the Senate will be forced to do its duty.
Our
challenge is enormous, but a clear and responsible budget
and smart legislation to end our nation's reckless debt path can restore
confidence and secure the future for today and for tomorrow. Our
current path--that of Greece--is one of chronically high debt,
unemployment, poverty, and dependency. Adding endlessly to
the debt is not compassionate; it is destructive. We must rescue the
nation from this painful course and help those who need it most live
better, freer, and more prosperous lives.
