Continuing Resolution Passes House, on to Senate

[Silverbird]

http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/02/news/economy/budget_continuing_resolution/index.htm

 

[nnuut]

Nancy has put it off long enough, what has she got up her sleeve now, judging from her past activities it's something crooked. COME ON JANUARY!

 

[James48843]

I want you to think about this....

On Wednesday, the House approved the measure to give the government another 15-day extension of the continuing resolution under which it is currently operating by a vote of 239 to 178.

Here is what I want you to think about. The issue was SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT KEEP GOING UNTIL DECEMBER 18th, or not?

Vote of 239 to 178, to keep the government going.

What does that tell you?

Do you think, come December 18th, if they don't have an agreement on spending for 2011 (which they won't, of course) , that they won't limp it along till January.

And, come January, that the people who had 178 votes this time, will then have 240+ votes.

Do you think they will shut off the government once and for all then?

(I think I would like to take some time off in January....)

 

[Steel_Magnolia]

Does anyone besides me remember the year we operated on CR's until March, and then gave us a 10% across the board cut?

Half the year gone, we'd been told we could spend at the previous year's levels while waiting for a budget, and then they enact a 10% cut on our budget as a whole. There were no seasonal rangers or maintenance workers that summer. No travel. No supplies. Ugly year. But we got through it.

 

[alevin]

Pretty sure I remember that, there was a long string of years where we didn't see final budget til April, even w/o CRs tho. I think the year you are referring to tho, was the year we had an office-wide meeting, and the managers told us all to go forth and "detail". I went back to my desk, picked up the phone and within 2 hours had a 2 month detail lined up-went to tell my supervisor and he said oops, I didn't mean you. You can't go, we need you here. :nuts:

 

[PessOptimist]

I did some research on this subject a while ago and it's not as simple as we and the media try to make it.

IIRC all appropriations are not usually approved under one bill. All continuing appropriations acts (commonly called continuing resolutions) do not cover all appropriations. In some years appropriations were made under "full year continuing resolutions".

Passing a budget apparently ain't just one bill.

http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/RL30343.pdf

Enjoy, it's a great read.

 

[EmoDx]

Does anyone besides me remember the year we operated on CR's until March, and then gave us a 10% across the board cut?

Half the year gone, we'd been told we could spend at the previous year's levels while waiting for a budget, and then they enact a 10% cut on our budget as a whole. There were no seasonal rangers or maintenance workers that summer. No travel. No supplies. Ugly year. But we got through it.

AFC-30 funds (general operating funds) usually get funded first. While there are contracts that come out of 30 funds, those are the first to get ratified and funded.The real challenge is this:

I need to create a new contract with AFC-42 funds (or your flavor). Between competitive process and negotiation you need 100 - 160 days. So if you CR to Jan. 1 (a good year), 90 days lost. Then the bean counters want all funds obligated at least 60 days before closeout. You have lost 150 days before you are even funded. Take away weekends you have 154 days to award a new contract that will take 100 - 160 days to award. No holidays PTO accounted for.

Now as a good Project Manager or Business Manage does, he/she has all paperwork and files ready to submit Oct. 1st as if his/her Line of Accounting was fully funded on day 1. But, if you have construction funds, you are in deep trouble. Construction funds take up to 280 days to award. In this situation you have to actually go against the FAR and obligate funds prior to being funded.

It is amazing how politicians can expect to gvt. employees to get work done in the given regulations.

- Emo