TOPICS

House Democratic leaders are looking to pass a continuing resolution that will fund the federal government until March 6, when a new president and Congress are installed rather than deal with President Bush, who has threatened to veto any appropriations bills that spend more than he has recommended.

According to a draft version of the CR, House Democrats would fund most federal government programs at fiscal 2008 levels until March 6 unless Congress acts before that. The draft also includes $5.1 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

House Democratic leaders had previously discussed including the funding in an economic stimulus package valued at about $50 billion.


RELATED STORIES

The package also includes $25 billion in loan guarantees for the U.S. auto industry that was authorized in legislation enacted last year.

COMMENTS

  • All the political drama is killing the American peoples trust. After all is said and done I surely hope I don't see the " Good old boys/ladies" shaking hands and patting each others back with congratulations on a job well done. Our leaders shared same parties and vacations with Wall Street wolves and they all need to be held responsible for the embarrssing and dangerous position we are faced with today. TSP is not their backup bank account for their screw ups.
  • Want Congress to pass a bill quickly? Just include a retroactive pay raise for members of the Legislative Branch and you'll get rapid committee approval and a unanimous voice vote.
  • Adding pork is a problem, to be sure. The bigger problem, so far not touched, is the arrogance of congress to decide that it has the authority and mandate to use a CR to avoid its mandated responsibility - to pass a budget. It's ok, they're only blatantly delaying because they don't like the current administration or their own membership. It's not like they're waiting for some meaningless reason...