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One thing I feel that is lost in all of the budget talk is how long it’s been since the country actually had a real budget.

Gaetz said it’s been the 90s.

I was under the impression it was 2005, when the Democrats knew that Bush2 needed money for his wars. They wanted their stuff, too.

Pelosi says that in order to get money for the wars, Bush2 has to sign whatever she puts in front of him. Which he did.

Congress then learns…wait until the last minute - scare the hell out of everyone with cuts and shutdowns - everyone gets to toss their pork and pet projects in the kitty - on the last day the President has to sign it and no one knows exactly what’s in it except for what they put in.

Of course, Soetero liked it because he got whatever he wanted and it relieved him from having to do one of his jobs: negotiate a budget for the people. He could blame everything on Congress

Pres Trump submitted a budget every year and asked for one from the House to get the negotiating going.

Those POSs, having successfully changed the rules, ignored him and threw CRs at him.

Government accounting can create miracles. They can spend more than they take in, increase the debt, and balance the budget at the same time. Moving items "off budget" is a thing of wonder. Image your household finances if you could just move your mortgage off budget. That sort of thing created the specious balanced budget of the Clinton administration.

Government by contnuing resolutions and omnibus bills is a way to have unlimited spending and uncontrolled debt increases with nobody being responsible. It is a great way to redistribute wealth into desired pockets.

Trump could have refused to sign the first CR, and made clear he would refuse to sign any subsequent CR. The Congress could override his veto, but then they would own it.

Digressing slightly with another observation, I have seen numerous complaints about spending taxpayer dollars on Ukraine. After defense, debt interest, Obamacare and Social Security, taxpayer dollars are gone. We borrow the money to give to Ukraine to spend on defense contracts from the U.S. It's magic.

The rules did not change. There is no enforcement mechanism when the Congress does not answer to the people.

Congress can add $1T to the debt in a year and a congress critter can get life tenure in office if enough of the pork gets delivered to their district. They keep getting reelected so we have the government we deserve.