Congress Passes 6-Week CR

Last Thursday night, the Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through November 16, by a vote of 94-1. The President must sign the CR, which passed the House earlier this week by a vote of 404-14, by Sunday, the last day before the beginning fiscal year 2008 (FY08). Passing the CR is the final stage in the first failed promise of the new Democratic majority in Congress that campaigned, in part, on the ability to pass all spending measures before the end of the fiscal year. Congress has six weeks to complete work on all twelve spending bills, or pass yet another CR.

The purpose of a CR is to keep funding the federal government despite the lack of authorizing legislation for each individual government agency. Traditionally, a CR funds government programs at the previous fiscal year’s funding level, or the lowest level agreed to in different House and Senate bills. This year, the CR level funds programs for six weeks.

Representative Jerry Lewis (R-CA), the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, lays the blame for the backed up schedule solely on the shoulders of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). The House passed all of its FY08 spending measures before the month-long August recess. The Senate, meanwhile, still has eight more bills to complete by November 16, or Congress will need to pass another CR.

President Bush has levied veto threats on all but two spending measures. If Congress is able to get the defense and homeland security bills through conference, the President will likely sign them with little reservation. However, recalling the importance of political theatre in Washington, Congressional leaders are likely to set up a political showdown over a bill that will likely meet with a veto. Democrats will use the bill to make a political statement against the President’s policy towards spending on domestic programs. It is not clear which bill Democrats will send to the White House, but the schedule leaves them only a short time to pass the bill, send it down Pennsylvania Avenue for a veto, and hold votes to try and override the veto.

Meanwhile, if Congress plans to finish its appropriations work by November 16, it will have to bunch all those unfinished bills into one large omnibus package. Neither Republicans nor Democrats are thrilled with that particular course of action, but it may be the only option for the majority to pass their desired spending levels.

Resources:
David Clarke, “Reid Hints at Budget Strategy as Senate Clears Stopgap Spending Bill,” CQ Today, September 27, 2007.
Scott Cox, “By 404-14 Margin, House Passes CR Through Nov. 16,” Congress Now, September 26, 2007.
Author: SAS