On the Budget, Republicans in Disarray -- Again

March 19, 2015

This week, GOP Budget Chairman Tom Price and House Republicans rolled out their latest assault on working families – their "Work Harder for Less" budget, loaded with big tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and gimmicky math. But in their rush to protect special interests at the expense of hardworking Americans, House Republicans have once again failed to sort out the internal disarray within their Conference. Last night, Republicans frantically called quits on a late-night markup in the Budget Committee because of their own inner dysfunction.

Republicans are making a mockery of the budgetary process – and they are badly failing yet another basic test of their ability to govern.

National Journal: Yet Again, House Republicans Are Stuck

Unable to overcome stark internal differences, the budget panel recessed around 10 p.m. without having finished marking up the measure. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy arrived to twist arms, but the effort was unsuccessful and the committee threw in the towel at midnight—with hopes of trying again Thursday.

Whatever the final outcome, the budget delay marks yet another stumble by a Republican majority that has repeatedly found itself unable to move controversial legislation easily through its ranks in the 114th Congress.

CNN: House GOP members threatening to take budget down over defense

…if House Speaker John Boehner can't cobble together enough votes from his own members for a budget, he will add another embarrassing setback to a pile of failed efforts this year. Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pledged that total GOP control of Congress meant they would prove their party can govern and showcasing a unified budget is key to that pledge.

AP: Budget Vote Delayed Over Battle Between House GOP Factions

The failure of the House Budget Committee Wednesday to approve its budget as scheduled was unprecedented in recent memory and could delay floor debate into April. Conservative Budget Chairman Tom Price, R-Ga., appeared out of synch with GOP leaders seeking to placate defense hawks.

The Hill: Fiscal hawks scuttle House Republican budget efforts

The impasse is just the latest stumble for House Republicans, who have repeatedly struggled to rally around legislation. Most recently, GOP leaders suffered an embarrassing floor defeat on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security and attack President Obama's immigration executive actions.

POLITICO: Budget talks break down amid GOP rancor over defense spending

The budget breakdown is indicative of the Republican Party's deep internal fissures: The GOP is torn between fiscal hawks and defense hawks, and seemingly unable to reconcile the differences between the two.

Failing to pass a budget would be cataclysmic for Republicans. It would again prove they have difficulty with the basic functions of governing.

Instead of tripping over their own feet on yet another basic duty of governing, Republicans should join Democrats to pass a budget that invests in the hardworking Americans who are the backbone of our country.