…But Those Chances Appear Slim

Both major forces in the budgetary action ahead have signaled that chances of boosting the raise might be slim. The incoming Democratic leadership has announced its intent to pass another continuing resolution good through the rest of the fiscal year rather than take up individual appropriations bills. They also have said they intend to keep that bill “clean” of special spending provisions. But unlike the stopgap measures so far—which used a broadbrush approach in setting spending levels—the new measure likely will involve a more detailed look at agency needs, with some areas getting increases. Meanwhile the Bush administration has said that while it prefers to have the spending bills passed, it will work with the new Congress “to ensure there are no major disruptions to essential government services. Should there be a long-term continuing resolution, the administration would want to assure we maintain fiscal discipline and avoid gimmicks and unwarranted emergency spending,” OMB said in a statement.