Earlier this year in March, Congress completed work on a six-month continuing resolution that will carry discretionary government spending, about $1.87 trillion, through the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30, which is now rapidly approaching.
Now, Congress will again be called on to pass in some form the 12 appropriations bills. Usually, at this time of year, that would come in the form of another continuing resolution followed by a year-end omnibus or more continuing resolutions with_30 omnibus spending bills_adopted since 1986 through the most recent period and now 16 full-year continuing resolutions _since 1977. Big spending bills whether an omnibus or a continuing resolution, are the most likely outcome under the current rules.
So far, will little more than a month to go, the House and Senate have both only finished one of the 12 bills, that one on military construction. The Senate version of that includes Agriculture and Legislative Branch as well, so those still need to be reconciled. The House has also passed Defense on its side. September could see a marathon of votes ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline.
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