• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

President Trump Signs HR 244 – The Continuing Spending Resolution – Into Law…

Mycroft

Genius is where you find it.
DP Veteran
Joined
Oct 27, 2011
Messages
101,226
Reaction score
45,153
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Conservative
Once again, we have a continuing resolution instead of a budget.

Earlier today President Donald Trump signed HR244 into law. The provisional spending bill that funds government through September 30th, the end of fiscal year 2017.

The basic principle the entire professional political class seem to overlook is the reasoning for the CR itself. Congress has been unable to fulfill its budgetary obligation since 2007.

In fact, the last federal budget (fiscal year ’08) was signed into law in September of 2007. By the conclusion of this CR it will have been an entire decade without a federal budget.

Perspective: ♦ Over half of all elected federal politicians have never held elected office in any year with a federal budget in place. ♦ Almost two-thirds of Republicans in congress have never known a federal budget for a single day in office.

THAT FACT should be the target of the ire from all Americans, particularly conservatives. However, hypocritically, it is not.

https://theconservativetreehouse.co...-the-continuing-spending-resolution-into-law/

So...a few questions:

1. Is anybody bothered by the fact that our Congress hasn't devised and passed a budget in almost 10 years?

2. Is it actually a "bad thing" that Congress hasn't passed a budget in almost 10 years?

3. Should Trump demand that Congress pass a budget in September? Should he even go so far as to let the government shut down until they do?

My answers:

1. Yes. I am VERY bothered.

2. Yes. Congress is shirking their most important responsibility.

3. I think he should. I think he should make it VERY clear that he won't allow them to continue kicking the can. He should tell them to send him a budget that he'll sign or suggest they just go home because they are not doing their job.
 
And this is why I like our system where a budget vote is a vote of confidence.
 
I'd rather have a government shut down than delay funding for the wall.
 
So, Trump didn't get his non-defense cuts, PP stays funded, and no Wall money. Great day for America.
 
Figuring out why is more important. WHY haven't we had a signed budget in a decade? Is that even true? The Washington Times says that Congress passed a full budget "for the first time" back in 2015.

Congress passes first budget in 6 years - Washington Times

Do we even NEED a budget? Obviously we've continued spending and running the country without one for some time now. What's the advantage of having one? And why is it important?
 
Figuring out why is more important. WHY haven't we had a signed budget in a decade? Is that even true? The Washington Times says that Congress passed a full budget "for the first time" back in 2015.

Congress passes first budget in 6 years - Washington Times

Do we even NEED a budget? Obviously we've continued spending and running the country without one for some time now. What's the advantage of having one? And why is it important?

I don't think this was really a budget.

GOP leaders said the plan, which is a non-binding outline that doesn’t require the president’s signature, sets up the rest of the 2016 spending process, and is proof that Republicans can govern now that they control both chambers on Capitol Hill.

While non-binding, the budget sets goals for the dozen annual spending bills that keep basic government operations funded, as well as establishing outlines for reforms to the tax code and entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

A "non-binding outline"? No signature from the President? No...not a budget.

At to why we haven't had a signed budget? I lay that on the Elites in both Parties who are more interested in feathering their own nests with money from their donors than actually making the hard choices our country needs. As long as they get theirs, it doesn't bother them what happens to the people.
 
I'd rather have a government shut down than delay funding for the wall.

LOL....you are cute.....you reallly believe that Trump has any intention of building "The great wall of Trump"?
 
I don't think this was really a budget.

A "non-binding outline"? No signature from the President? No...not a budget.

I kinda thought so too, but they kept saying "budget".

At to why we haven't had a signed budget? I lay that on the Elites in both Parties who are more interested in feathering their own nests with money from their donors than actually making the hard choices our country needs. As long as they get theirs, it doesn't bother them what happens to the people.

I was thinking more along the lines of what physical actions are not happening (which would require getting more citizens to fully understand the budget process), and what can be done to force those things to happen, assuming we really think that we even need to have a budget. I mean really, what's been the downside of a decade without one?
 
I kinda thought so too, but they kept saying "budget".



I was thinking more along the lines of what physical actions are not happening (which would require getting more citizens to fully understand the budget process), and what can be done to force those things to happen, assuming we really think that we even need to have a budget. I mean really, what's been the downside of a decade without one?

I suppose some people might say that increasing spending, increasing the deficit, increasing the national debt...well, none of that is a bad thing. I disagree. I think the government should strive to spend within its means.

As far as how to force Congress to enact a budget, I've already said I think Trump should hold them to it. The problem for him, though, is that the Mainstream Media, their talking potato heads and Congress themselves will paint such an ultimatum from him in the worst possible light...and I think he would come out on the short end because so many people believe the anti-Trump hype.

Thinking people...which we seem to have a short supply of nowadays...won't be swayed by the hype. The rest of the country...the useful idiots...will.
 
I'm not clear on the practical implications of passing "continued resolutions" rather than "budgets"
 
Another ridiculously unbalanced budget.

Absolutely pathetic.
 
I'm not clear on the practical implications of passing "continued resolutions" rather than "budgets"

Optics - rather than having your favorite congress critters say "I voted to borrow and spend on all manner of goofy stuff again" they can say "I was forced to compromise in order to avoid a government shutdown". ;)
 
The only constitutional requirements are:

"To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States."
"To lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."
"To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years."

There is no requirement in the constitution for a budget or a requirement to have a debt ceiling.

Budgets are just planning documents and Will Rogers made a career out of pointing out that Congress has no plan.
 
Back
Top Bottom