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Providing for Further Consideration of H. Con. Res. 376, Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2007

By: Jim Costa
By: Jim Costa
Date: May 17, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Government Budget and Spending


PROVIDING FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H. CON. RES. 376, CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 -- (House of Representatives - May 17, 2006)

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I served in the California Legislature for 24 years, half of which was spent in a leadership role, and I believe I know how to engage in a bipartisan process. Unfortunately this budget resolution is not a bipartisan process.

Rather than provide the House with an opportunity to engage in serious and meaningful budget discussions, we are left with this ``take it or leave it'' package. Today this body acts in a de facto parliamentary fashion. Rather than consider the constructive and realistic solutions to our budget problems, like the Blue Dog 12-point plan that was referenced by Mr. Cooper, that includes a pay-as-you-go provision, we are left with this proposal as our only option. It is a Hobson's choice, which I believe is no choice at all.

Rather than do what our constituents expect us to do, discuss, debate, and have meaningful oversight, make tough policy choices, we are left with a budget package within a failed budget process that is nothing more than a fig leaf to cover a host of fiscal policy shortcomings that have resulted in massive budget deficits over the last 5 years. It is a chronic case of wanting to have your cake and eat it, too.

We cannot continue to tell the American people they can have tax cuts, increased spending, and not impact our budget deficits, but that is what this budget resolution does. I do not believe that a majority of Americans support this way of doing the people's business. They expect us, as adults, to work together to solve the fiscal problems of our Nation. Unfortunately, that is not what is happening in this effort, and I unfortunately must oppose this budget resolution.

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