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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the impact of an omnibus bill versus a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government by the end of the year. He also highlighted the need to return to regular order to pass a 2023 budget. Excerpts and full video are below.
On a Continuing Resolution vs. an Omnibus Bill
“In response to a CR versus an omnibus spending bill, what the Vice President didn't say is how long the continuing resolution ought to be. If we were to have a one year continuing resolution that takes us at least the end of this fiscal year, now we have some serious problems related to our funding priorities, particularly for the men and women in uniform and our military, which needs help badly. A short term continuing resolution that would last until the end of January, perhaps that would make some sense, but then we have to make darn sure that we had the discipline in that short timeframe to make sure we get our work done by the end of January. The next fiscal year has to begin with the next Congress, which starts January 3, and I hate to see us start way behind again.”
“Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden have figured out that if they don't have a single appropriations bill or single appropriations hearing or a single appropriations vote throughout the course of the year and pile it all on at the end of the year, they have a better chance of adding their priorities, which are always non-military, non-defense discretionary priorities as though the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act weren’t enough. They have a better chance of [passing it] because the adults in the room, the fiscal hawks that care about our military don't want to put our military in further jeopardy with these continuing resolutions.”
On the Returning to Regular Order
“What bothers me is that late January turns into late April, May, or June, and then you're just a few months from the end of the fiscal year and you haven't begun the next fiscal year. All of this is supposed to be done a year in advance. We’re behind the eight ball now, so time management is very important. The [House of Representatives] is responsible for starting the process of appropriations, the good guys are in charge over in the house. I am confident that a Speaker McCarthy can put in motion regular order. What I worry about is can he put in regular order motion quickly enough so you have two fiscal years’ worth of appropriations process as opposed to chaos. It's a fine balance, it's going to be difficult. I'm all about it if we can get there. I do worry about what happens if we get a late start on next year’s budget.”
“[This process] benefits the left, hurts the economy, hurts the right and hurts our reputation as legislators because we’re not doing this under the bright sunshine.”