HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER STENY HOYER: Yeah, we’re punting the budget this year.

The primary responsibility of Congress under the Constitution is to pass a budget for the federal government. The Democrats have a 77-seat majority in the House and an 18-seat majority in the Senate, where filibusters won’t apply anyway on budgetary matters. Barack Obama’s presidency gives them a clear path to passing whatever budget Democrats desire for FY2011.

So with significant majorities in both houses of Congress, why can’t the Democrats pass a budget? The Hill has answers:

[B]because [what will be passed] won't be a traditional budget resolution, it will be silent on future deficits, which are expected to average nearly $1 trillion for the next decade.

Democrats have expressed concern about voting for a document showing lots of red ink in an election year.

Aha!