VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia) had harsh words Monday for his Congressional colleagues' habit of failing to pass on time, full-year budgets, and instead relying on a budgetary gimmick called a continuing resolution (CR).
According to the Congressional Research Service, Congress has enacted one or more CRs in all but three fiscal years since 1977, for a total of 200 such resolutions over the past 46 years.
Speaking before the Hampton Roads Chamber's annual meeting, Warner said, it's no way to run a government.
"Every time we kick the can, we do a huge disservice," he said.
Later, in an interview with 13News Now, Warner said CRs are harmful.
"It costs jobs; it costs taxpayer money. It's crazy," he said.
Warner said Hampton Roads — with its heavy reliance upon Defense Department dollars — stands to get hurt the most.
"Hampton Roads with our dependence on the military, there's no part of our budget and people suffer worse than our military men and women when you don't have the predictability of a full year's budget," he said.
As things stand now, Congress faces continuing resolution expiration deadlines of January 19 and February 2.
Warner was asked if he was confident a deal could be struck, and disaster can be averted.
He said: "I've got to have some confidence. Because the alternative is pretty damn bleak."
Warner also weighed in on the current negotiations over President Biden's $106-billion supplemental aid package for Ukraine and Israel.
He said "it doesn't make sense" to tie that funding to new border security spending as some House Republicans have insisted upon.
But Warner said a deal must be made. He hopes there's one this week.
If not, he said: "People will look back on us and say we missed our moment of responsibility."