Buerkle Introduces "Just Do Your Job Act"

Washington, DC - Today Congresswoman Buerkle introduced the “Just Do Your Job Act of 2011.”  This legislation will effectively defund House and Senate Budget Committees and leadership offices responsible for passage of a budget resolution in compliance with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, in the event that they fail to act.  The Congressional Budget Act requires each House of Congress to pass a concurrent resolution on the budget every year.

The House of Representatives passed a budget resolution on April 15, 2011.  However, more than 785 days have passed since the U.S. Senate passed its last budget on April 29, 2009.  Since that date, the Senate Budget Committee has spent more than $12 million of taxpayer money and the government has added more than $2.6 trillion to the debt.  The Senate’s failure to comply with the law and do their job is irresponsible.  By not presenting any plan to address the out of control debt and deficit the Senate is contributing to the risk of a national financial crisis.

“This legislation provides a solution to this dereliction of duty by cutting funding for operations that cannot or refuses to comply with the law.  It is a way to ensure that we are in compliance with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and in our responsibility to the American people” Rep. Buerkle commented.  “Even the Libyan government, in the middle of a civil war, passed a budget on June 15, 2011.”

“We were sent here to cut wasteful spending.  The main purpose of the Budget Committee is to pass a budget.  If they can’t do their job, that taxpayer money spent on the committee is about as useful as the money we spend to study shrimp on a treadmill” Rep. Buerkle added.

The bill prohibits any further payments from the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution for the operations of the House or Senate Budget Committee of their respective chamber if that chamber has not passed a budget resolution in compliance with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

It also rescinds $1 million in appropriations from the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution for the operations of the Office of the Majority Leader of either chamber if the particular chamber has not passed a budget resolution in compliance with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

“Senator Harry Reid is paid by the American people to follow the law and pass a budget.  If he can’t do that, he should give those resources back to the people and stop wasting their money” said Rep. Buerkle.