WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today criticized the Senate Democrats’ continued failure to produce a formal budget, despite being required to do so by law. Sunday, April 29, 2012, marks three full years—or 1,096 days—since the Democrat-led Senate last passed a formal budget.

“For three full years now, Senate Democrat leaders have abdicated their duty to propose and pass a formal budget as required by law, and in doing so, have failed to fulfill their most fundamental duty to the American taxpayer. With the national debt over $15.5 trillion and the unemployment rate over 8 percent for the past 38 straight months, the time is long overdue for Congress to exhibit fiscal restraint, which can only be achieved by producing a budget. America cannot afford for Congressional leaders to continue punting on the major budget challenges of our time.”

Since the Democrat-led Senate last passed a budget, the national debt has increased by $4.5 trillion dollars. President Barack Obama has presided over four straight years with deficits above $1 trillion, despite pledging to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term.

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