John, Congress is showing its lack of fiscal discipline

>>>Sign our petition and show your support for “No Budget, No Pay” today! <<< ([link removed] )

Hi John,

It was another great week for the No Labels movement and America’s commonsense majority. In Arizona, we learned that more than 27,000 Americans -- 27,631, to be exact – organically registered as No Labels voters. That means these citizens signed up on their own without No Labels doing any organizing on the ground which speaks to the power of this message. Likewise, we’re proud to celebrate gaining official ballot access in Rhode Island. Along with getting on the ballot last week in Tennessee, that puts the No Labels movement on the ballot in 18 states!

Back in Washington, we’re keeping an eye on the dysfunction on Capitol Hill. Ahead of yet another looming government shutdown, Congress is once again scrambling at the eleventh hour to pass a massive stopgap spending bill totaling $1.2 trillion to keep the lights on in Washington. If our lawmakers were taking a class on financial literacy, they would fail. After all, one of the first principles of solid financial thinking is knowing how to spend your money wisely. 

  

Imagine you're considering a major purchase for your home, like a new roof. Would you ever commit tens of thousands of your hard-earned dollars without first knowing exactly what you're buying or if it even meets your needs? 

  

The answer, for most of us, is a resounding no – we’d do our research on the best roofing companies, identify exactly what our needs are, and set a budget. 

  

Yet, when this scenario plays out in Washington time and time again, not with thousands, but with hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars, Congress acts about as irrationally as they come. 

  

Since Congress created the modern budgeting system in 1974, they’ve been required to pass 12 mandatory spending bills each year. But in the 50 years since, they’ve completed their required budgetary duties on time only four times ([link removed] ) , and not once since 1997. 

  

If you only did one of your key job requirements less than ten percent of the time, you’d expect to be fired. But Congress keeps on trucking with its bad habits. 

  

One of the most glaring results of this reckless approach is our overreliance on "continuing resolutions." A continuing resolution (CR) is a type of legislation used to fund government agencies and programs temporarily when a formal budget bill has not been approved. When yet another government shutdown looms, the CR allows Congress to kick the can down the road for as long as they want. 

  

While it might sound harmless on the surface, the repeated use of CRs is a symptom of a deeper problem: the inability of Congress to pass a timely and responsible annual budget. 

  

Why are CRs so destructive? By making it incredibly difficult for government agencies to plan and execute long-term projects efficiently. This inefficiency means more wasted taxpayer dollars, more missed deadlines, and a ballooning federal debt and deficit. 

  

What’s more, without a properly vetted budget that aligns our spending with what we need and how much money we actually have to spend, we're essentially flying blind, borrowing more and more to cover short-term expenses without a sustainable plan. 

  

The stakes couldn't be higher, and the approach couldn't be further from the commonsense financial management we employ in our own lives. We need bipartisan leaders in Washington who are willing to come together, roll up their sleeves, and tackle the budgeting process with the seriousness and diligence it demands. The future of our nation's financial health and the well-being of all Americans depend on it. 

  

At No Labels, we've long championed reforms to instill discipline and accountability into the federal budgeting process. One such idea is the "No Budget, No Pay" policy, which proposes a simple yet powerful condition: if Congress fails to pass a budget, they shouldn't receive their salaries. It's such a simple concept rooted in the basic principles of accountability and responsibility that guide us in our personal and professional lives. And it's an idea whose time has come once again. 

  

If you agree that the time is now for “No Budget, No Pay,” sign our petition and make your voice heard ([link removed] ) . 

  

Margaret White, 

No Labels

Common Sense Talk with Dr. Frank Luntz

As No Labels continues our process to identify courageous leaders to serve on a Unity presidential ticket, we want to ensure our community is fully briefed on the current political environment. That’s why we want to invite you to our next Common Sense Talk on Wednesday, March 27, at 1:00 PM ET with acclaimed pollster and strategist Dr. Frank Luntz who will give you his latest insight on what American voters are thinking and what they are looking for in a presidential candidate in 2024.

RSVP HERE ▸
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Five Facts on Lend-Lease.

 By No Labels

As Congress attempts to pass vital military aid to Ukraine, reports are emerging that the final legislation may include a revitalization of the Lend-Lease program – a callback to the legislation that enable America to support its allies before entering World War II.

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Rhode Island has a new political party. But it still hasn’t picked any candidates.

By Nancy Lavin

Board of Elections vote Tuesday gives No Labels a spot on the November presidential ballot.

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