One of the most important responsibilities of the US Senate is to pass a budget resolution for the upcoming year. For the 2013 budget mark-up session, the majority of Democrats on the committee remained AWOL (all Republican members attended the meeting) while the Chair of the Committee assured members there would be no vote on the budget.

What is the point of a budget committee meeting with a promise of no vote after 1085 days without a budget? Why do American taxpayers have to pay members who don't even show up to do their jobs. Most importantly, how can US Citizens feel their country is managing its fiscal house when the committee which is suppose to pass a budget doesn't bother to do so for over 3 years?