House Appropriations Process Suspended Indefinitely

July 9, 2008

In a unique appropriations year that continues to get more unusual, the appropriations process in the House has been suspended indefinitely as Democrats seek assurances from Republicans they will cooperate in moving fiscal 2009 spending bills.

House Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey, D-Wis., for the time being is carrying out his threat to end further committee markups unless Republicans agree to follow “regular order.” Obey initially suspended markups just prior to the July Fourth recess when Republicans tried to force votes on energy production amendments by offering the Interior spending bill as a substitute to Obey’s Labor-HHS-Education bill. But many appropriators said they expected the markup process would get back on track once lawmakers returned and everyone had a chance to “cool down.” 

No House Floor Consideration Expected in Near Future: Democrats May Delay Final Appropriations Until the New Year

Also a casualty of the standoff is House floor consideration of any spending bills, with no bills expected on the floor this week and only a slim chance any will see floor action next week. Democratic leaders had wanted to bring up the Military Construction-VA bill on Friday. Because President Bush early in the year threatened to veto spending bills that exceed his limits, Democrats for months have said they would probably use a continuing resolution to kick completion of the appropriations process into the new year under a new president. But it was expected the House would still pass most of its 12 annual spending bills before the August recess. House Appropriations to date has approved just five bills. In the Senate, leaders have said they expect to consider the Defense spending bill on the floor in July, but Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, threw cold water on that prospect Tuesday, saying the Senate plan was contingent upon the House first moving its version.

Democratic leaders in both chambers are still talking about moving a second economic stimulus bill, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Tuesday the Senate wouldn’t be able to act until September. Democrats, particularly in the Senate, would like another chance to move various initiatives and funding increases that were dropped from the enacted February stimulus package and last month’s war supplemental.