“Deadlock shows inability to lead, especially in the Senate,” says Schatz

Government by Continuing Resolution

(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today chided Congress’s leadership, particularly Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), for its inability to fulfill its most elementary duty: passage of the 13 annual appropriations bills that will run the government for the coming year.  The Senate thus far has failed to even pass a budget.

“We are in the middle of a national security crisis, there is war on the horizon, the economy is sluggish, and we face fiscal deficits, yet Congress – particularly the Senate – has become so completely gridlocked that it is derelict in its most basic duties,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “To say nothing of the bottled up legislation to create a Department of Homeland Security, the energy independence bill, the numerous unconfirmed executive branch appointees, the prescription drug benefit bill, and bankruptcy relief.  So committed to higher spending and partisanship are some members of both parties in both houses that they are willing to throw a wrench in the works until they get their way.”

As a result of the gridlock, the government will run on a series of stopgap funding measures called Continuing Resolutions which fund programs at previous levels. 

“Running government by Continuing Resolution is an abdication of responsibility and leaves major areas of new spending priorities unaddressed,” Schatz also said.  “At this point it is unclear when new resources related to defense and homeland security will be allocated.  Without a budget, there is not even a clear roadmap for debate.  Will spending increases be offset by cutting budget waste and pork from other areas?  Without a budget, no one knows.  What a way to do business.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.