Pass a Budget

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives has passed a budget every year since the Congressional Budget Act took effect in fiscal year 1976. To be completely accurate, there have been times under both Democrats and Republicans when a finished budget was not passed by both Houses. But this is the first time the House of Representatives has simply decided there is too much peril for the American public to see the numbers that they are pursuing, so they are going to stop the game before the coin is even tossed.

We have more than $13 trillion in debt and a Presidential budget that puts the deficit at $1.6 trillion and spends $3.8 trillion. Even Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke says this budget is, quote, ``unsustainable.''

Faced with similar challenges in your personal budget, there would be a talk around the kitchen table and the children's allowances would be cut, along with many other luxuries. It is that discussion that the majority seems unwilling to have under the theory that if they ignore it, it might go away. Unfortunately, the debt will not go away. The pain will be transferred to our children and grandchildren in the hopes that they will have the guts to face reality.

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