|
Jeb in the News
| |
|
Hensarling, DeMint Propose Automatic CR, Blast Democratic 'Games' on Spending
|
|
| |
|
By Scott Cox
As Published in Congress Now September 19, 2007
|
|
| |
|
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas)
and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) today proposed legislation today that would continue to fund the federal government if Congress fails to pass all of the annual appropriations bills or stop-gap spending measures before the start of a fiscal year.
If enacted, the bill would serve as an automatic continuing resolution to prevent a partial or full government shutdown. It would fund departments and programs either at the previous fiscal year’s level or at the level of the House- and Senate-passed appropriations measures, whichever is lower.
Hensarling, who chairs the hawkish Republican Study Committee, said that Democrats are posturing for a government shutdown since they refused to "sit down in good faith" and negotiate with the administration on spending levels.
"I think they want to dust off that play call," Hensarling told reporters, referring to the 1995 budget standoff between a Congressional Republicans and President Clinton that led to a shutdown.
Democratic appropriators in both chambers have added roughly $22 billion in discretionary spending above President Bush’s topline request for the next fiscal year. Bush has threatened to veto 10 of the 12 FY 2008 appropriations currently moving through Congress, citing "excessive" spending and objectionable policy provisions.
Since it’s essentially impossible for all 12 bills to be enacted by the beginning of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, a continuing resolution will be needed to prevent a halt to government operations. Democratic leaders have been discussing a CR extending as far as mid-November, although the idea of a shorter stopgap funding measure is also being weighed.
DeMint said that the current spending debate between Congressional Democrats and the White House is a legitimate one, but added that it should not occur under the threat of a shutdown.
"Many in Congress favor higher spending, but they shouldn’t be able to hold our government hostage until they get their pet projects," DeMint argued. "Congress should create an automatic safety-net that will prevent the government from shutting down and put a stop to the end-of-the-year spending games."
It will be Democrats’ decision to shut down the government if one occurs, Hensarling asserted, since he and DeMint have offered legislation to prevent it.
A call to the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was not returned by press time.
Newly anointed Office of Management and Budget director Jim Nussle voiced his support for the bill today and said that he looks forward to "working with Congress to ensure we fund our government at reasonable and responsible levels." |
|
|
