Just as I predicted back in October, Congress pushed its discretionary spending deadline back by one week, from December 16 to December 23. This comes as no surprise as congressional leadership is once again trying to ram through a massive omnibus bill before the year ends. The Friday deadline gives leadership leverage, as they threaten a partial government shutdown that might keep members of Congress in Washington over Christmas. Vote as you’re told, or you’re not going home is the name of this game. Yet in the same vein that Congress managed to punt on appropriations when they were due on September 30, and again on December 16, Congress could punt on appropriations once more. The December 23 deadline is rather arbitrary— except for the fact that a new Congress will take power next year. As I’ve argued previously, the American people would be better served by Congress extending the continuing resolution into 2023 for the new House majority can take another crack at putting discretionary spending on a more responsible path.
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