A “continuing resolution” may be legislative procrastination at its most dangerous. By a continuing resolution Congress defers appropriating funds to operate the Federal Government for the next Fiscal Year (October 1 - September 30). Congress thereby buys and bides time and prolongs indecision simply by continuing into the applicable fiscal year (which often already has begun) the appropriations which became law for the prior fiscal year.

The 109th Congress did not do itself proud first by recessing (at election campaign time), then by adjourning, without appropriating money for Fiscal Year 2008 (which had begun on October 1, 2007). Rather, it enacted a continuing resolution, to expire on February 15, 2007.  In other words, no Federal agency could know for sure what its FY 2007 appropriation would be or, however wild it may seem, whether it might be shut down in whole or in part ten days hence - on February 15.

The Democratic House of Representative majority in the new, 110th, Congress, has begun with a blast. It appropriated $ 463.5 billion shortly before President George W. Bush submitted his proposed FY 2008 budget.  The vote was 286 - 140, 57 Republicans joining the prevailing side.  Not surprisingly, the Democrats “snuck in,” so to speak, some money for various educational and health-care projects they favored. (So much for federalism: The Feds already are into everything.)

Regardless of the substantive merits of some of the $ 463.5 billion appropriation, the House of Representatives, which originates all appropriations bills, had to do something.  This is so because the Senate needs a little time to follow through and February 15 is fast upon us.  Thus, the Democrats probably should be commended for prompt action, if perhaps not for some of the appropriated items and for what may have been unduly minimal cooperation with the Republicans.

The bigger picture is smeared. Both the Executive and Legislative Branches of the Federal Government need to behave more like business:  Plan ahead. Everybody knows that October 1 occurs each year on October 1. A clearer, and timely, picture of the next fiscal year’s appropriations is essential, if certainly no cure-all, to more smoothly functioning government. 

Marion Edwyn Harrison is President of, and Counsel to, the Free Congress Foundation.