Washington, D.C. – Dean of the United States House of Representatives, John D. Dingell (D-MI15) issued the following statement opposing H.Res.38:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.Res. 38, a vague and reckless “budget-less” budget resolution.  H.Res. 38 claims to reduce non-security spending to fiscal year 2008 levels or less, but this one-page bill has not one final budget number, nor does it actually make any specific cuts.  Instead, this resolution grants all authority to the Chair of the House Committee on the Budget to set the budget allocations for the Committee on Appropriations.  This entitles the Chairman to merely have the allocations printed in the Congressional Record. 

“So much for an open and transparent process.  So much for allowing the Committees of jurisdiction to do their work.  Mr. Speaker, we declared our independence from Great Britain precisely because we didn’t want a king and here we are making one out of the Chairman of the House Committee on the Budget!

“By allowing only one hour of debate on the resolution and no amendments, Republican leadership seeks to bypass the deliberation and debate by Members of Congress.  Republican leadership also struck down a motion that would have required a vote by the full House before any allocation could become effective, once again limiting input by the Members of this body. 

“It is clear that the Grand Old Party remains committed to deciding our nation’s budgetary policies in smoke-filled backrooms.  It is clear that the one-page resolution brought to the floor today is not a serious plan to reduce the deficit.  Indeed, the new Republican plan offers the same empty rhetoric as the last: all smoke and mirrors.  It is fiscally irresponsible, both procedurally and substantively, and it puts too much power in the hands of one individual – the Chairman of the Budget Committee. 

“Furthermore, the arbitrary decision to reduce spending to non-security – a clear definition of which we have yet to see – funding levels in fiscal year 2008 jeopardizes the progress our country has made in recovering from the economic downturn.  My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are not governing for fiscal year 2008, we are governing for the remainder of fiscal year 2011.  Rather than driving our economic progress forward, the Republican leadership has chosen to throw the car into reverse, threatening to destroy the recovery this economy has made. 

“My colleagues on the other side of the aisle say they can’t provide specifics, as they are awaiting information from the Congressional Budget Office.  The same Congressional Budget Office they recently accused of cooking the books.  I am glad Republicans now see the value of the non-partisan organization.  It is my understanding that CBO will come out with baseline numbers within the next week.  Would it not be a better course of action to wait for those numbers and show us all exactly which programs are to be cut – to lay the specifics on the table?  Or is today’s resolution modeled after the Republican repeal bill – meant for political showmanship only?

“I am ready to work in a bipartisan way to reduce deficits, as well as promote economic growth and protect the strength of American middle-class families.  During this current economic downturn, we must not jeopardize our Nation’s ability to create jobs.  Unfortunately, the GOP has made it clear they are not interested in taking real action for the American people.  Republicans have already voted in their rules package, paving the way to add nearly $5 trillion to the deficit, and have voted to increase the deficit by $230 billion by repealing the health care law.  I will NOT stand idly-by and let the GOP advance its record of doubling the national debt and shirking away from fiscal responsibility.  I urge my colleagues to do the same.”

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