Throughout September, the White House has threatened to veto the 2009 Defense Authorization bill and other bills if they include provisions not supported by the White House.  With the clock ticking and no appropriations bill passed, the government faces a shut down after September 30, 2008.

Typically, relief is found through a continuing resolution (CR), a type of appropriations legislation used by the United States Congress to fund government agencies if a formal appropriations bill has not been signed into law by the end of the Congressional fiscal year. The legislation takes the form of a joint resolution and provides funding for existing federal programs at current or reduced levels while the branches of government fight it out to pass the appropriations bills. However, the White House is threatening to veto a CR if it still contains a ban on offshore drilling.

With a tumbling economy and an election not too far away, what better way fix the myriad of national problems but to effectively furlough those who can assist during these national crises: the entire federal government.

OhMyGov! sources have uncovered the congressional plan to force the White House into a difficult position.  It is rumored the House Appropriations Committee (HAC) and Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) have devised the following plan.  The House is expected to pass Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations on  18 September 2008.  The Senate is then expected to pass DoD Appropriations on 19 September 2008 and add the Veterans Affairs and Military Construction bill and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) into one bill merging all three above appropriations into one bill.

Strategically, there are discussions to follow these appropriations by a possible short-term CR through November 2008 to cover for lame duck administration and add a possible Hurricane Supplemental.

They are also vetting the passage of all three appropriations bills, the CR and the Hurricane Supplemental in one bill.

A bill that supports the troops, assists veterans, promote security, and helps those affected by recent hurricanes, while keeping the government doors open appears to be a wonderful piece of legislation.  But maybe, with elections around the corner that is what they will want the voter to think.  In the end, it's all politics.

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