Continuing resolution: Congress’ way of kicking the can down the road

Annie Andersen: CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS- THEY’VE BECOME A WAY OF LIFE in congress.

TAKE SOT- Chuck SCHUMER (D-NY) Majority Leader

<<”I reached an agreement with Leader McConnell BUTT TO on a continuing resolution that will keep the federal government funded through mid-February of next year.”>>

Annie: AND THEY’VE BEEN TURNING TO THEM FAIRLY FREQUENTLY OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES.

TAKE SOT- Mitch MCCONNELL

“<<I’ll introduce a continuing resolution that will ensure continuous funding for the federal government.”>>

TAKE SOT– REP. DAVID CICILLINE (D-RI)

<<”A continuing resolution is not the way to proceed.”>>

Annie Andersen: SO WHAT EXACTLY IS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION?

FOR THAT.. LETS CRACK OPEN OUR DC DICTIONARY. 

IN SHORT- A CONTINUING RESOLUTION.. OR A CR.. IS A WAY TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. 

ARGUING OVER WHAT GOES IN A DEFENSE SPENDING BILL? TURN TO A CR.

AVERT A SHUTDOWN WITHOUT DEALING WITH THE BUDGET? ONCE AGAIN.. IT’S A CR TO THE RESCUE. 

YOU MIGHT ALSO HEAR IT CALLED STOP GAP FUNDING.. BECAUSE IT FILLS IN THE GAP BETWEEN APPROVED BUDGETS.

FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE FUNDED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

SO EACH YEAR CONGRESS HAS TO APPROVE their BUDGET… OR they can  PASS A C-R.

THAT INCLUDES THESE 12 APPROPRIATIONS.. OR discretionary SPENDING BILLS.

And IF THEY Don’t… 

TAKE SOT- Sen. James Lankford (R-OK)

<<”GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN”>>

Annie Andersen: THERE ARE GENERALLY 6 PARTS TO A CONTINUING RESOLUTION.

ONE- FORMAT- WHAT’S EXACTLY COVERED.

TWO- Time- CRs cover a specific amount of time. THEY CAN GO AS SHORT AS A DAY OR AS LONG AS SEVERAL MONTHS. 

next- money.. MOST OFTEN CRS FUND THE GOVERNMENT AT ITS CURRENT LEVEL.. SO WHATEVER rate YOU HAD BEFORE, will continue. But funding can increase or decrease for specific activities.  

FOUR- NEW SPENDING. THAT’S A NO-GO FOR A C-R. 

If IT WASN’T APPROVED IN THE PREVIOUS BUDGET, IT ISN’T HAPPENING.

FIVE- ABNORMALITIES- THINK OF THIS AS YOUR RAINY DAY FUND OR YOUR ‘WHAT IF’ MONEY

FINALLY- POLICY RIDERS: THIS IS SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE EXTENDING A TAX PROVISION.. 

BUT IT’S ALSO WHERE MEMBERS CAN STICK IN their own PET projects. 

Fall and WINTER are GENERALLY CR SEASON,

 BECAUSE too often Congress doesn’t pass their spending bills by the OCTOBER 1st deadline.

In fact, THAT HASN’T HAPPENED SINCE 1997! 

FROM 97 UNTIL 20-21, Congress passed 126 CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS. 

Now that you know what a c-r is, WANT ANOTHER PHRASE BROKEN DOWN for OUR next  DC DICTIONARY. LET ME KNO W!