Now, it’s also time for some plain talk about the most immediate obstacle to controlling Federal deficits.  The simple but frustrating problem of making expenses match revenues—­something American families do and the Federal Government can’t—­has caused crisis after crisis in this city.  Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, I will say to you tonight what I have said before and will continue to say:  The budget process has broken down; it needs a drastic overhaul.  With each ensuing year, the spectacle before the American people is the same as it was this Christmas:  budget deadlines delayed or missed completely, monstrous continuing resolutions that pack hundreds of billions of dollars worth of spending into one bill, and a Federal Government on the brink of default.

I know I’m echoing what you here in the Congress have said, because you suffered so directly.  But let’s recall that in 7 years, of 91 appropriations bills scheduled to arrive on my desk by a certain date, only 10 made it on time.  Last year, of the 13 appropriations bills due by October 1st, none of them made it.  Instead, we had four continuing resolutions lasting 41 days, then 36 days, and 2 days, and 3 days, respectively.

And then, along came these behemoths.  This is the conference report—­1,053 pages, report weighing 14 pounds.  Then this—­a reconciliation bill 6 months late that was 1,186 pages long, weighing 15 pounds.  And the long-term continuing resolution—­this one was 2 months late, and it’s 1,057 pages long, weighing 14 pounds.  That was a total of 43 pounds of paper and ink.  You had 3 hours—­yes, 3 hours—­to consider each, and it took 300 people at my Office of Management and Budget just to read the bill so the Government wouldn’t shut down.  Congress shouldn’t send another one of these.  No, and if you do, I will not sign it.

Let’s change all this.  Instead of a Presidential budget that gets discarded and a congressional budget resolution that is not enforced, why not a simple partnership, a joint agreement that sets out the spending priorities within the available revenues?  And let’s remember our deadline is October 1st, not Christmas.  Let’s get the people’s work done in time to avoid a footrace with Santa Claus.  And, yes, this year—­to coin a phrase—­a new beginning:  13 individual bills, on time and fully reviewed by Congress.

I’m also certain you join me in saying:  Let’s help ensure our future of prosperity by giving the President a tool that, though I will not get to use it, is one I know future Presidents of either party must have.  Give the President the same authority that 43 Governors use in their States:  the right to reach into massive appropriation bills, pare away the waste, and enforce budget discipline.  Let’s approve the line-item veto.