Hey, Dr. Phil here, and I have a question for you about something you have read in the news

just in the last few months.

On Friday, March 13th, at the last minute, the Senate passed a budget averting a government

shutdown.

They had until 11.59 p.m. Eastern Time Friday night.

Now, every year, the budget has to be passed. Every year,

Congress must pass and the president must sign a budget consisting of 12 appropriations

bills. This isn't a surprise. It's not like somebody shows up and says, hey, New Deal, hate to throw this on you at the last minute,

but you have to have a budget this year.

This is not a surprise.

There's had to be a budget every year that we've had this country.

But here's the thing that's bugging me.

Congress has not passed these appropriations on time in 42 of the last 45 years.

Think about it.

Don't you hear it every single time?

Each time they're threatening a government shutdown.

Shutdowns are not good for the economy.

Shutdowns cost taxpayers billions of dollars per week.

Shutdowns cost the economy billions of dollars.

This year alone we face three different shutdown deadlines.

The first two times, lawmakers agreed on short-term extensions.

This time, they finally passed the budget.

...