Yesterday, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad announced he would attempt to pass a Democratic budget for the first time since 2009. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan released a statement this morning congratulating Conrad for his efforts:
It is a grave disappointment that the U.S. Senate has refused to pass a budget for three consecutive years. With a debt crisis looming on the horizon, it is unconscionable that we lack willing partners at the White House or with the Senate Democratic Leadership to advance structural reforms required to get America back on track. By refusing engage in an honest budget debate, the President and his party’s leaders continue to put the next election above the next generation. With the right leadership in place, I remain hopeful that reformers can work together to meet our generation’s defining challenge of ensuring greater opportunities for generations to come.
Conrad will hold a press conference at 2:45 PM today where he will release the Democrat budget. His Budget Committee will begin marking up the bill with a hearing and opening statements at 2 PM Wednesday. Senate Budget Committee members will be allowed to offer amendments Thursday.
If the budget is passed out of the Budget Committee, Senate Rules allow any Senator to place it on the calendar for a vote. Majority Leader Harry Reid would then be forced to make a motion not to consider his own party’s budget.
