Media Contact:
Victoria Coley 433.758.6077
victoria@thepublicnotice.org

                                                              

SENATE’S DUTY TO TAKE UP A BUDGET
With The Upper Chamber Approaching Three Years Since It’s Passed A Budget, Senate Referee Says Budget Control Act Doesn’t Prohibit Plan From Being Considered This Year

Arlington, VA – For months, Senate Democrats have said they do not need to bring a budget to the floor this year because last summer’s Budget Control Act, which raised the debt ceiling, made passing a budget for this year unnecessary.  In February, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, “We do not need to bring a budget to the floor this year.”  Reid’s logic came from the fact that last summer’s Budget Control Act set an enforceable spending cap of $1.047 trillion in the Senate for the upcoming fiscal year.  However, late last week, newly-appointed Senate Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, issued a ruling against Majority Leader Reid announcing that last summer’s Budget Control Act does not prevent the Senate from taking up a budget this year.

Lenwood Brooks, policy director at Public Notice, said the following:

“For months, Senator Reid has said he doesn’t need to pass a budget because the Senate already addressed this process when they raised the debt ceiling last August.  The Senate Parliamentarian’s ruling makes it clear that the Senate has the ability to pass a budget this year and they should act now,” said Brooks.  “In just a few shorts weeks, it will mark three years since the Senate has passed a budget.  After its Spring Break, the Senate should set aside the political posturing and have a real budget debate.  We can’t just sit and wait while the debt piles up and taxpayer dollars continue to be misused.”

If you would like to schedule an interview with Lenwood Brooks
 please call Victoria Coley at 443.758.6077 or victoria@thepublicnotice.org.

###

Public Notice is an independent, nonpartisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to providing the facts and insights on the effects public policy has on Americans’ financial well-being.