By Robert Laurie ——Bio and Archives--January 8, 2014
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The White House is said to be at least a month behind its own schedule for developing a fiscal 2015 budget, which by statute is supposed to be submitted to Congress on the first Monday in February. That will slow work on next year’s spending bills, even though the budget accord negotiated by House Budget Chairman Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Budget Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., established overall discretionary spending levels. There is no penalty for a late presidential budget submission, but appropriators cannot hold hearings until they have a chance to review the administration’s proposals. Last year, Obama’s budget was released two months late, in early April, a delay that factored into Congress’ failure to clear any fiscal 2014 spending bills in 2013.As Townhall points out, the three previous Presidents were late with their proposals a whopping 4 times in 20 years. Obama has now been late five of six times during his tenure. You can say that doesn't matter, since not even Democrats are willing to vote for the craziness his budgets contain, but it still means he's missed more of these deadlines that any President in almost a hundred years.
The expectation is Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., will keep a Senate budget deal off the floor, arguing the Ryan-Murray pact makes it unnecessary. Senate debate on a budget resolution could open the door to numerous amendments that the chamber’s Republicans can use to force highly partisan votes just months before the elections.Heaven forbid the Dems have to stand up for the things in which they believe - during an election year! Chastise the President all you like, but he's a man who knows what his priorities are. Budget be damned, he has to hit the golf course, go snorkeling, grab some shave ice, play basketball, and take a few selfies. If there's time, he'll host a Jay-Z concert in the White House. After that, maybe - if you're lucky - he'll deal with those pesky numbers.
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