GOP Leader: "The American people will hold Washington Democrats accountable for their failure to do the right thing for our country."

Contact: Michael Steel, Kevin Smith, 202-225-4000

WASHINGTON, June 29 /Standard Newswire/ -- During the weekly Republican leadership press conference, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) called out House Democrats for trying to circumvent their cancellation of this year's budget  by 'deeming' a non-existent budget as having passed -- without actually writing a real one -- so they can continue spending money we don't have on failing 'stimulus' policies.  Boehner, who has run a small business, also addressed Vice President Biden's recent encounter with a small business owner who asked about having his taxes lowered.  Following are Boehner's comments:

"You all remember when the Democrats back in March were going deem the health care bill passed and Americans were outraged at the idea.  Well, here we are today, where the Democrats are scheming to deem a budget in place. It's not a budget: all it is, is a set of numbers so Democrats can continue their out-of-control spending spree here in Washington.   Every family knows that in tough economic times, it's more important to have a budget, not less important.  This failure to do a budget is nothing short of a failure of leadership.  The American people will hold Washington Democrats accountable for their failure to do the right thing for our country. 

"Last week the Vice President was visiting with a small business owner, and the small business owner asked the Vice President about lowering his taxes.  Of course, the Vice President as you probably heard a little while later referred to him as a 'smartass.'  Now this is the kind of attitude that comes out of Washington that irritates the American people to no end.  Republicans are going to listen to the American people, and we're going to work with the American people to get this spending under control, and to get our economy moving again, so that we can allow this small business owner and thousands like him around the country, the ability to have a better business and to begin to hire more people."

WASHINGTON DEMOCRATS ON THE "DEEMING RESOLUTION":

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): "It's used only when the normal budget process completely breaks down.  A deeming resolution is an admission of failure... Apparently, they're not even going to try to produce a budget.  It's a sad commentary on the state of affairs here in Washington. ... Yet this new funding level, which ultimately will have an impact on millions of Americans, was approved ... behind closed doors, with no public input.  This isn't the way to set budget policy in America. ... And we shouldn't have abandoned the normal budget process by including a deeming resolution that ignores the will of the Senate."  (Remarks, 6/14/06)

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI):  "They use this rule to deem as passed the budget resolution which they have not been able to pass.  In other words, the rule says 'Let us pretend that in spite of the fact that the Congress hasn't passed its budget, it has.'  That is what we are doing." (Remarks, 5/18/06)

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI): "Moreover, the rules continue the so-called 'deeming' resolution, which allows the House to pretend it has adopted a binding budget resolution..."  (Congressional Record, 1/7/03)

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA): "I am extremely disappointed this bill includes a deeming resolution for the budget. ... Now, I tried to explain a deeming resolution to one of my constituents the other day.  Try to explain it to someone. Try to explain it to someone who is not in this body -- a 'deeming' resolution. ... We then are going to pass a deeming resolution to deem something that we cannot pass as passed because we deem it passed.  Now, just try explaining that to the average citizen of this country.  They would think we have lost all our marbles in trying to do something like this."  (Remarks, 6/14/06)