Rep. Takano: “The Budgets Passed By the House Republicans Are Less Valuable Than the Paper They Are Written On”

 

Washington DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives regarding H.R. 444 (Require a PLAN Act). During the proceedings, Rep. Takano offered an amendment to the legislation, which blames President Obama alone for the national debt. 

The amendment changes the Findings section of the bill to reflect Congress' Constitutional responsibility to pass budgets and appropriate funds.

 

Original Text:

 

(3) Since taking office, the President has al-

lowed the Federal debt to grow by nearly $6 trillion

and total debt now exceeds the size of the entire

economy of the United States.

 

Amended version:

 

(3) Since the President took office, Congress has al-

lowed the Federal debt to grow by nearly $6 trillion

and total debt now exceeds the size of the entire

economy of the United States.

 

Full remarks:

 

The bill before us today tries to blame President Obama for all our fiscal woes. Judging by the language of this legislation, I’m convinced that House Republicans live in a world where our entire national debt suddenly appeared on January 21, 2009.

 

But let’s be clear, our debt was not created by the President alone. While the President may be responsible for sending us a budget blueprint, it is ultimately Congress that holds the power of the purse.  I think my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are forgetting a key part of our job. The President does not pass budgets, nor does he appropriate funds. Congress does.

 

My amendment makes a simple change to the Findings section of the bill to clarify that Congress has the constitutional responsibility to fund the federal government.

 

I can guarantee that when the majority introduces its budget this month, it will be so extreme that it has no chance of passing both Houses.

 

The Republican Majority seems to be able to come together for meaningless proposals, but they know that when it comes to sensible legislation, such as preventing us from going over the fiscal cliff or providing aid to Sandy victims, the 218^th vote will come from a Democrat.

 

The only thing allowing the House Republican Caucus to govern is the House Democratic Caucus.

 

House Republicans have been more focused on passing budgets that message well, than introducing a budget that both the House and Senate can agree on.  

 

These are budgets that don’t stand a chance of passing the Senate, simply because the GOP refuses to compromise on anything. How many of their budgets end Medicare as we know it? What makes them think that the Senate would pass a budget that goes back on our promises?

 

The budgets passed by the House Republicans are less valuable than the paper they are written on. They do nothing to bring both sides of the aisle together and are a complete waste of time and taxpayers money.

 

It is the Majority’s failure to negotiate in good faith on the budget that has gotten us here today. Year after year, the House Republican Leadership has chosen do anything within its power to discredit the President instead of working to solve our nation’s challenges.

 

I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.