Once again, Congress is embroiled in a year-end fiscal fiasco over its failure to carry out its constitutional duty and responsibility under U.S. Constitution, Article I Section 8 in a responsible manner. The failure of Congress to provide for the timely and orderly funding of the federal government demonstrates a fundamental lack of basic Congressional competence. Furthermore, it is a betrayal of Congress’s fiduciary obligation to exercise and carry out its constitutional authority under Article I, Section 8 for the general welfare of the people of the United States — not for the benefit of Members of Congress, party politics, special interests, government bureaucracies, or politically motivated earmarks.
Moreover, it is false, misleading, and fraudulent for Congress to call a massive omnibus bill that increases, expands or adds new federal spending a “continuing resolution.” A continuing resolution that allows the federal government to function at current levels of spending for a limited, specified period of time does not require a massive omnibus bill over hundreds of pages long. All it requires is a brief bill written in simple, plain English that authorizes the federal government to continue operating at current levels of funding for a limited, specified period of time.
Members of Congress should be ashamed and embarrassed by their failure to carry out their constitutional duty and responsibility under U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8 in a timely and orderly manner. Members of Congress should be ashamed and embarrassed by their false, misleading and fraudulent use of a continuing resolution to increase, expand, and add to federal spending.
The American people should hold their elected Members of Congress (regardless of party affiliation) responsible and accountable for (1) Congress’ repeated failure to fund the federal government in a timely and orderly manner, and (2) Congress’ false, misleading and fraudulent use of continuing resolutions to increase, expand, and add to federal funding. If the American people do not do so, they will continue to suffer the serious, negative consequences of repeated Congressional fiscal incompetence and shenanigans for many more years to come.
2 comments
We already have a budget law, Congress ignores it. Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Congress ignores it. The lawmakers are the law breakers.
In my opinion, our only hope is BRICS. Perhaps BRICS can force the U.S. dollar out as reserve currency which could stop the deficit spending. Our government and judicial are both hopeless. They are the most evil and corrupt ever known to man kind. .
So true, thanks Emilio. But what can be done about it? Perhaps go back to a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year,which pretty much most state and local governments do. Change the constitution to require a balanced budget and provide provisions for Congress to do budgeting? I think one thing that could help is change the Constitution to give House members a 4 year term and allow tax and spending bills to originate in the senate, too? Im grasping at straws, but as Emilio notes, continuing resolutions are bad — maybe should be prohibited by law or Constitutional amendment.