(Aug. 4, 2008) Just when you thought Congress could not find new ways of tying itself in knots and delaying the critically important appropriations process, it did. The end result for FY09 funding is likely to be more delays.
Both the House and Senate began in June and July to address the need to pass appropriations bills to fund the government for FY09. Most of AACOM’s attention is focused on the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education bill. In the week prior to the congressional Independence Day recess, both houses began to move their bills in earnest.
In the Senate, which had a lower allocation with funding levels that were not quite as favorable, the Labor-HHS bill was approved in subcommittee and moved quickly through the full Appropriations Committee. As a result, the bill is available for floor consideration at any time, although that is unlikely to happen in the short term.
In the House, where the numbers were better (for example, in addition to restoring Title VII funding to FY08 levels as the Senate did, the House bill increased funding significantly for the disparities programs that are included), the bill moved well through subcommittee. However, in full committee, the Republican minority offered an amendment to delete everything in the bill and replace it with the text of the Interior appropriations bill. This was done because the Republicans wanted to offer amendments to repeal the ban on drilling for oil offshore and in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve. The meeting broke down in chaos and was adjourned without addressing the Labor-HHS bill.
This kind of political gamesmanship calls into question the ability of either house of Congress to complete its bills individually, let alone reach a House-Senate agreement on all 12 appropriations bills. Most observers of and participants in the system expect that the bills will be moved as far as possible between now and the time Congress recesses for the election in early October. Then, they will likely be carried over until after the new Congress and new President are sworn into office in January. In the meantime, the government likely will operate under a Continuing Resolution which will be drafted to continue to fund programs at FY08 levels.
There are significant frustrations in Congress’ inability to resolve these issues. To be fair, however, underlying the political machinations, there are significant policy differences between and among the players involved. Until the body politic determines that it is time to end this bickering and reach real compromise, we are likely to continue to see such activities in the future.
See other Appropriations information.