Randy Demmer for Congress - Walz, Democrats Fail to Pass Federal Budget; Refuse to Provide Fiscal Discipline Need to Create Jobs

Republican Congressional Candidate State Representative Randy Demmer released the following statement today, criticizing House Democrats and Congressman Tim Walz for their failure to enact or even propose a budget for the federal government:

“As a small business owner and farmer, I’m concerned with the lack of leadership coming out of Washington. What Americans are looking for is real action on the economy – not just more spending increases, bailouts, and additional government programs. As long as Tim Walz and the House Democrats refuse to act, we will continue to miss opportunities to create jobs and grow the economy. Here in Southern Minnesota, we know you can’t grow the economy by growing government. The best way to revive the economy and create jobs is to reduce government spending and encourage businesses to expand and succeed – and that is what I will do.

How can Tim Walz and his colleagues continue to pass billions of dollars of deficit spending and even debate additional stimulus spending without showing how these programs fit into a broader budget plan? The uncertainty and fear that the American people are experiencing as their elected leaders cast about for a solution while playing politics is costing us jobs and prolonging the impacts of the recession.”

This would be the first time since the Congressional Budget Act was adopted in 1974 that the majority party has failed to pass an annual budget resolution. Instead, Tim Walz and the Democratic Leadership have chosen to force through their big-government tax and spend agenda with a procedural budget scheme, similar to the legislative antics surrounding passage of the Health Care reform bill earlier this year. The House’s weak enforcement resolution will do nothing more than endorse the goals of the President’s fiscal commission and reiterate the commitment to vote on its recommendations after the midterm elections.

It is clear that Tim Walz and his colleagues are attempting to avoid taking a vote that would formalize the record trillion-dollar deficits that they are responsible for. They are trying to pass their Constitutional duty on to a non-elected budget commission, instead of providing the leadership and guidance Americans are looking for. During my service in the State Legislature, we were responsible for passing a balanced budget in each biennium. Even though difficult choices had to be made, we lived up to our Constitutional obligations on behalf of our constituents. In Washington, they aren’t even trying anymore.

We need to stop burdening our children and grandchildren with Washington’s reckless overspending and get back to setting priorities, sticking to a budget, and making government live within its means – just like families and businesses in Southern Minnesota and across the nation have had to do. Why should Washington be any different?”