• At press time, appropriations for the 12 government agencies were still in the holding pattern. As of the middle of last month it seemed unlikely that new bills would be approved by November 16, the last day of a Continuing Resolution that allowed agencies to continue doing business at the same spending level as last year. The last time Congress passed all its appropriations bills by September 30, the end of the government fiscal year, was 1977.
Senate and House conferees have agreed on a $471.2 billion military spending bill that had to go to a floor vote but, just in case, lawmakers added a continuing resolution to keep the government working. The lack of funding creates government inefficiencies and inhibits such management functions as planning and contracting. Uncertainty about final appropriations causes many managers to hoard money and delay hiring and purchasing decisions. Without continuing resolutions, government agencies would have to close shop until Congress acts.
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