Democrats razz the GOP over budget deadline

Democrats on Wednesday needled Republicans for failing to meet the April 15 legal deadline to adopt a conference agreement on the budget.

The deadline is technically just after midnight Wednesday, but negotiators from the House and Senate are not expected to reach a deal by that time.

“Once again, Republicans have failed to meet their responsibility to the American people. Even with control of both chambers of Congress, Republicans have been unable to enact a budget resolution by the deadline required under the law,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement.

{mosads}The Congressional Budget Act of 1974, which established the modern-day budget process in Congress, requires both the House and Senate to adopt a budget compromise by April 15. Before 1986, the deadline was May 15.

Congress has missed the deadline numerous times. In fact, lawmakers have met the deadline only six times, according to a Congressional Research Service report from 2008.

When Democrats last adopted a conferenced budget in 2009, they also missed the April 15 deadline and instead completed action on April 29.

There are few consequences if Congress misses the deadline except for rules on spending bills. The House cannot hold floor votes on spending bills for next year until May 15 unless Republicans adopt a conferenced budget before then.

House GOP leaders have signaled confidence in reaching a deal by the end of the month by scheduling floor votes on two spending bills before their next recess in May.

Leaders in the House appointed Republican and Democratic negotiators to the conference committee Tuesday, and leaders in the Senate are expected to do the same on Wednesday.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), ranking member on the House Budget Committee, accused Republicans in a statement of working in secret on their blueprint. .

“On the 100th day of the Republican controlled Congress, we’re once again left with secrecy and dysfunction,” Van Hollen said.

Van Hollen is one of three House Democrats appointed to the budget conference committee.