You’ve Got Six Months
Next Monday is April 1st, meaning there will be exactly six months left in the U.S. government’s fiscal year. That should be plenty of time for members of the House and Senate to fulfill their duty to pass a proper budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1st.
And based on what I keep hearing from all of you—via phone, email, text, and social media—you’re about out of patience with those who profess to be fiscally responsible, holding true to principles of limited government, limiting wasteful spending.
But we are a “what have you done for me lately?” sort of society, so what better way for our elected officials to earn our vote in November than by actually doing what they are supposed to do?
Specifically, I’m talking about the bare minimum—pass 12 separate spending bills in regular order, so that all are passed and signed by the president by September 30. No lumping them together into one “up or down” package for a vote. No lumping half into one “minibus” and the half into another one, up against—or after—the deadline. Twelve bills, one at a time…like you used to do, and like should be done again.
So far, I’m only suggesting that the process of the job get done like it’s supposed to, and like the GOP majority in the House swore they would do. I’m not even talking about cutting spending, spending only on necessary things, things like that…I’m just looking to have the process be respected and followed.
That’s not too much to ask, is it? Because after all, when they miss the deadlines by six months, then lump things together into massive trillion dollar all-or-nothing package, they’re not just disrespecting the process…they’re disrespecting you and me, the voters.
Just do your job in a timely fashion…such a radical concept…but evidence of how significant the challenges are to our basic political system.
You’ve got six months. And we’ll be watching.
