Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) Texas senior Senator with all 47 Republican senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid pressing for action on the stalled FY2012 Senate budget. While only 51 votes are needed to pass a budget it was been 754 days since the Senate Democrats have passed a budget. Over this time period $3.2 trillion in new gross debt has been added to the deficit. This year Senate Democrats have yet to produce a budget. This letter was authored by U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH).
The text of the letter follows:
Dear Majority Leader Reid:
It has now been 754 days since the Senate last passed a budget. We have less than six months remaining until the start of the new fiscal year and the Senate has yet to produce a basic budget plan to substantively address our grave fiscal crisis. With our nation officially reaching the $14.3 trillion debt limit last week we urge you to take the steps necessary to bring a FY2012 budget forward in committee and on the floor for an open honest and serious debate.
The voters in the November 2010 mid-term elections spoke loud and clear: the country can no longer afford the status quo or business as usual in Washington. Our fiscal reality is simply too dire. Each day that passes without a federal budget plan is another day in which out-of-control spending jeopardizes Americas economic future national security and jobs.
Last year Congress failed to pass a budget failed to pass any of the twelve annual appropriations bills and failed the nation by recklessly funding the government on a series of short-term spending bills. The Senate cannot make the same mistake again. Its time for colleagues on both sides of the aisle to demonstrate real leadership and work together to craft a fiscally responsible budget plan. Reducing government spending is not a simple taskit will require strong leadership by individuals who are willing to make difficult decisions. We stand ready to make those tough choices.
All across America families must find ways to make their family budget work and small businesses must plan within tight budget constraints. With limited resources they make hard choices to distinguish between wants and needs. The federal government must operate no differently.
This is the most important budget debate in our lifetime. Future generations will judge us based on the actions we take at this pivotal juncture. As we watch countries like Greece Ireland and Portugal forced into severe austerity measures and risking default because of unsustainable spending decisions we believe it is necessary to reduce our spending and deficits to ensure we do not suffer the same fate.
Given the importance of this budget we hope you will help ensure a transparent and honest budget process. The Budget Committees Republican members have asked our Chairman to allow the public to review his proposal no less than 72 hours before the first mark-up and permit ample time for amendments; we would request you support the same transparency throughout the process. We owe the American people an honest budget and an open budget process.
We urge you to work with us to produce a FY2012 budget resolution that makes significant cuts to federal spending and puts our nation on a fiscally responsible path to eliminating our debt altogether.
Very truly yours
Signatures
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) Texas senior Senator with all 47 Republican senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid pressing for action on the stalled FY2012 Senate budget. While only 51 votes are needed to pass a budget it was been 754 days since the Senate Democrats have passed a budget. Over this time period $3.2 trillion in new gross debt has been added to the deficit. This year Senate Democrats have yet to produce a budget. This letter was authored by U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH).
The text of the letter follows:
Dear Majority Leader Reid:
It has now been 754 days since the Senate last passed a budget. We have less than six months remaining until the start of the new fiscal year and the Senate has yet to produce a basic budget plan to substantively address our grave fiscal crisis. With our nation officially reaching the $14.3 trillion debt limit last week we urge you to take the steps necessary to bring a FY2012 budget forward in committee and on the floor for an open honest and serious debate.
The voters in the November 2010 mid-term elections spoke loud and clear: the country can no longer afford the status quo or business as usual in Washington. Our fiscal reality is simply too dire. Each day that passes without a federal budget plan is another day in which out-of-control spending jeopardizes Americas economic future national security and jobs.
Last year Congress failed to pass a budget failed to pass any of the twelve annual appropriations bills and failed the nation by recklessly funding the government on a series of short-term spending bills. The Senate cannot make the same mistake again. Its time for colleagues on both sides of the aisle to demonstrate real leadership and work together to craft a fiscally responsible budget plan. Reducing government spending is not a simple taskit will require strong leadership by individuals who are willing to make difficult decisions. We stand ready to make those tough choices.
All across America families must find ways to make their family budget work and small businesses must plan within tight budget constraints. With limited resources they make hard choices to distinguish between wants and needs. The federal government must operate no differently.
This is the most important budget debate in our lifetime. Future generations will judge us based on the actions we take at this pivotal juncture. As we watch countries like Greece Ireland and Portugal forced into severe austerity measures and risking default because of unsustainable spending decisions we believe it is necessary to reduce our spending and deficits to ensure we do not suffer the same fate.
Given the importance of this budget we hope you will help ensure a transparent and honest budget process. The Budget Committees Republican members have asked our Chairman to allow the public to review his proposal no less than 72 hours before the first mark-up and permit ample time for amendments; we would request you support the same transparency throughout the process. We owe the American people an honest budget and an open budget process.
We urge you to work with us to produce a FY2012 budget resolution that makes significant cuts to federal spending and puts our nation on a fiscally responsible path to eliminating our debt altogether.
Very truly yours
Signatures
