Rep. Obey Blasts GOP Congress for Inaction and Deceit. "What is this, the Soviet Parliament?"

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Republicans controlling the "Do-Nothing Congress" have utterly failed in their responsibility to fairly pass necessary spending bills, according to Rep. David Obey (D-WI), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Only two appropriations bills - Defense and Homeland Security - are expected to be passed when Congress leaves this week. "That means the entire domestic portion of the budget, plus the bills to finance foreign operations and State Department operations will be delayed until after the election, well into the fiscal year," Obey said.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is blaming the "obstructive tactics" of the Democratic minority for the gross inaction, but Obey said that Democrats have not delayed consideration for a single appropriations bill, and in fact tried to accelerate votes on at least 16 occasions.

To make matters worse, the votes for both bills actually expected to pass are being nefariously conducted by Republicans. The annual Defense appropriations bill includes only a partial payment of $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; more will soon be required. "I would much prefer that we be paying for the entire year, rather than continuing to see these wars continue to be financed on the installment plan," Obey said. "I think it would be helpful to the American people if they could see the full cost each year rather than having it dribbed and drabbed out, month by month, in order to hide the full impact of the cost."

The Homeland Security bill, on the other hand, is facing secret unilateral tinkering without Democratic input. After a bipartisan conference committee reconciled differences between the versions approved in the House and Senate, Republicans specifically promised they would not alter the bill as they have done in the past. Though the legislation is now ready to file for voting, Obey says Republican leaders are now sitting on the bill as they entertain ideas about which additional bills they could tack on.

"What is this, the Soviet Parliament? The leadership will make decisions behind closed doors, regardless of the rules?" he asked. "They're playing games."

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