The first budget and domestic affairs committee meeting can be summed up in two words: unstructured and partisan.
The budget committee proceeding started off with the sharing of goals from committee members. Many Senators cited efficiency and bipartisanship as their primary goals for their time on the committee. An impassioned Senator Lisa Murkowski (Collin McCarthy) declares “the future of the United States is bipartisanship.” Inspiring, isn’t it?
On day one, Senators failed to display any attempt to achieve these goals. Efficiency was nowhere to be seen in the budget committee and instead replaced by a clear lack of organization. As Senators attempted to settle on a set of rules for the committee, activity was halted multiple times to clarify correct procedure. Members with over fifteen years of experience in the Senate, such as Committee Chair Ben Cardin (Mia Black) and Senator Lindsey Graham (Jackson Buick), showed glaring ineptitude in following proper committee procedure. Graham, a Senator from South Carolina who has held his seat since 2003, even asked the committee to clarify what an amendment is.
As the committee session neared its end, Senator Elizabeth Warren (Patrick Panko) entered the session almost 45 minutes late, just in time to vote, continuing the ongoing pattern of apathy for following procedure.
Both neglect of proper procedure and partisanship were present in day one of the budget committee. In the debate of committee rules, Senators quickly divided by party. In a press release on behalf of all Republicans in the committee, Senator Murkowski wrote “There was no real conversation or intellectual discourse” in the discussion of the rules. As Senators voted on procedures for quorum and press, partisan 7 to 7 votes ensured inaction that plagued the committee. When Senator Warren finally appeared, Democrats were able to pass the rules with an 8 to 7 vote.
When asked how he felt about the partisan 8 to 7 vote passing of the rules, Senator John Ossoff (Nicholas De La Torre) said, “I would be happy to see some bipartisanship, but if there is partisanship, there’s nothing we can really do.”
Murkowski, speaking on behalf of the Republican members of the budget committee, believes that, “The Democrats are unwilling to listen to the other side.” Speaking for herself, Murkowski furthered this and claims “[She] will be continually willing to work with everyone across Congress, but for us to work cohesively, we need to work together.”
For now, bipartisanship seems to merely be a talking point for budget committee members, rather than a goal that’s actively being worked towards. Monday’s proceedings are not a step in the right direction for any of the members of the budget committee.
The budget committee is arguably the most important Senate committee. Since it determines the Senate budget and spending, it dictates how all other committee action and proposed legislation can proceed. Progress and action in the Senate can only occur with a well-functioning, efficient budget committee. As Murkowski stated: “The American people are suffering. . .we need to make changes.” Continued negligence and party division in the budget committee are not viable. I look forward to seeing much-needed progress in the committee in the coming weeks.
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