In 1974 Congress passed the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act to help them better manage the budget, control spending, and get a clear picture as to the country’s overall fiscal situation. This is done every year through the passage of a budget resolution. This year the Democratic Congress has decided not to pass a budget resolution because, according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer “it’s too difficult to pass budgets in election years, because they reflect what the [nation’s fiscal] status is.”

Rep. Hoyer is publicly admitting Congress is afraid of letting the American people know exactly how much they intend to spend and the projected size of the deficit. The failure to pass a budget resolution is a tacit admission that the Democratic Congress cannot govern openly, cannot manage the budget, and cannot get us out of this massive fiscal crisis. If nothing is done it will be only the fifth time since 1974 that Congress has failed to pass a budget resolution. The Democratic Congress plans to avoid one of its few statutory obligations, for the express purpose of avoiding the political damage it may do to them in the November elections. In short, keeping their jobs is more important than governing the country.

A budget resolution lays down a blueprint for the creation and enactment of the federal budget. It identifies the minimum amount the government will collect in taxes, which can give lawmakers a starting point in determining how much they can spend (in theory). Without a budget resolution, Congress cannot put a cap on discretionary spending and would also be unable to set up a framework for reining in entitlement programs.

Young Americans are greatly distressed about the national debt because we are the ones that will have to pay for it in future taxes. The Democrats are a major part of the problem and obviously will never be the solution. The question is: can a Republican Congress do a better job?

The budgets of the Republican Congress during the Bush Administration suggest they could do better but they too enacted budgets with large deficits. It is not persuasive to the American people to simply be the lesser of two evils. Americans deserve better and we can do better.

If Republicans are to convince Young Americans that they can be fiscally responsible, they must demonstrate that they have changed since the Bush years. One way to do this is to elect new members and new leaders. Fortunately the 2010 elections will bring about major changes to the Republican House and Senate membership. If the Republicans retake the House of Representatives in 2010, they will need at least 60 new members. Although the Republicans are very unlikely to retake the Senate, RealClearPolitics.com projects that there could be 14 new Republican Senators (6 retirements, and 8 democrats defeated), which would significantly change that chamber as well.

Regardless of the overall outcome in the November elections, the Republican Party will be getting a major makeover in November. It will be a stronger and revitalized party but it will still have a lot to prove to the American people. If Republicans retake the House, they must show immediately they have learned from their past mistakes and are unafraid to go head-to-head with President Obama on the budget. We must reduce government spending NOW. It will not be easy and it may lead to a shutdown of government until the parties agree on a budget, but it is vital for Republicans to stand their ground on balancing the federal budget.

It is important for Republicans to realize that their success in recent polls has more to do with anger toward Democrats than their own rising popularity. In fact, Americans in general still do not like the Republican Party. The American People are appalled and outraged at the ineffective, radical and divisive leadership of President Obama and the Democratic Congress. However, the outrage at Democrats is unlikely to last through 2012.

In the upcoming elections there is more at stake than the fortunes of the Republican Party. The United States faces a fiscal crisis that is historically unprecedented. In a time where we need great leadership capable of making tough decisions for the good of the country, we get cowardice, ineptitude, and partisanship. The United States cannot afford to have President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, or Harry Reid in power. Things need to change in Washington and it will not happen if the Democratic Party remains in control of Congress.

Author Bio: J. Wesley Fox is the Chairman of Restore America’s Legacy PAC. He is a recent graduate of DePaul University College of Law and has been active in local and national politics for several years. He currently lives in New Jersey after growing up in the Chicago suburbs.www.restoreamericaslegacy.com

Category: Politics
Keywords: Budget Resolution,deficit,national debt,Republican Party,Democratic Party,Nancy Pelosi,Harry Reid