(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) issued the following statement following the news that Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-1) entered his preferred federal spending levels into the Congressional Record yesterday– the only action now required to set these levels for the federal budget. 

“One of the founding principles of our nation is that elected representatives of the people should have a say in the levying and spending of tax dollars. Now, 434 members of Congress and the people they represent have been stripped of that right under this outrageous King-for-a-Day budget rule. Whether it is a Republican calling for spending cuts of more than $100 billion or a Democrat fighting for investments in job creation and small business, the constituents of every member of Congress but one have lost their representation on this critical issue of national concern.“

Ryan’s proposed budget cuts of $35 billion are well-below the target set by Republican leadership earlier this year, but under rules supported by every Republican Member of Congress last month, no vote will be held on these spending levels. Before the passage of these rules, a budget resolution historically would be considered by the House, debated by the entire Budget Committee, amended through the mark-up process, and approved or rejected by a vote on the House floor.  Under the new King-for-a-Day rule, Rep. Ryan is given unprecedented, unilateral power to set federal budget spending levels without a single debate or vote, simply by entering them into the Congressional Record.

Last month, Yarmuth introduced the Restoring the Democratic Process Act to repeal this new “King-for-a-Day” rule and return to the normal budget process of the House – guaranteeing that members of Congress have the opportunity to weigh-in and vote on the federal budget resolution both in Committee and on the floor of the House.

For more on these rule changes, click here.