The founders gave congress the power over the purse as a deliberate check upon the Judicial and Executive branches, for the purpose of checking their growth or assumption of powers beyond the original intent. Keeping the balance is essential to the survival of our democratic republic. The power of the purse was NOT just to keep fiscal things in order; it was designed for the exact purpose of giving the Legislative branch something to use to check the other branches in their power grabs. For example, if the executive branch exceeds its powers for example, in the area of Health Care, using bribery, legislative tricks, etc. to force its will upon a nation, contrary to the will of the majority of the citizens, then Congress not only can, but is morally obligated, to step up and DEFUND any such extensions of federal executive power, or use the power of the purse to bring the balance among the branches of government back to safe levels.
Thus to claim that the congress is being irresponsible, (for exercising the specific powers the founders gave them, for the specific purpose they were given), is disingenuous and self serving. Many in the press may be excused, since they have proven to be anything but students of the constitution. It is another thing for students of the constitution, to make such claims, knowing they fly in the face of a core founding principle of that inspired document, Seperation of Powers preserved with checks and balances.