Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., tried to blame Republicans for the Democrat-controlled Senate’s ongoing failure to produce a budget, during an appearance on Morning Joe, but quickly conceded that Democrats have the power to produce a budget, but have chosen not to do so in over 900 days.
While acknowledging that Americans have a “legitimate” complaint over the lack of a budget coming from the Senate, Durbin made a poor attempt to blame Republicans for the Senate’s two-and-a-half year failure. “Our majority is a majority in name only,” he said. “53 Democratic Senators, in most instances, will need the help of Republicans to move forward.”
Durbin retreated when Joe Scarborough noted that Republicans can’t stop Democrats from providing “a blueprint” for their planned annual spending. “I can’t argue the point,” Durbin admitted. As Senate Majority Whip, Durbin should also know that budgets pass with a simple majority; they cannot be filibustered.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., faulting his party leadership’s dereliction with respect to the budget, recently observed that he “would have been impeached as governor” if he had failed to pass a state budget for West Virginia. “I think there would be just too much risk for the next election,” he said, explaining why Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Durbin have not produced a budget. “They don’t want to risk the next election.”
