Meanwhile in Bizarro Land: Fiscal 2012 budget? How about Passing a Fiscal 2011 Budget

[sunskyfan]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget

It continues to amaze me that these people haven't passed a 2011 budget and pretend to talk about a 2012 budget. I think I heard a White House staffer say to a congressional staffer : "Let them eat continuing resolutions".

[peakishmael]

Re: Meanwhile in Bizarro Land: Fiscal 2012 budget? How about Passing a Fiscal 2011 Budget

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget

It continues to amaze me that these people haven't passed a 2011 budget and pretend to talk about a 2012 budget. I think I heard a White House staffer say to a congressional staffer : "Let them eat continuing resolutions".

I suspect you know this, sunskyfan, but the current administration is only doing what is required, e.g., releasing a budget in early February for the coming fiscal year 2012.

The fault is with the Congress, which has been unable to pass an FY11 budget, something they were supposed to do by 10/1/10. Over the last few decades, the trend has been for longer CRs. And it doesn't matter which party controls the House/Senate/Presidency. Hard to see this as anything other than political paralysis, grandstanding and gamesmanship. Assume a long CR at the start of FY12, too.

I work for a federal agency in DC as a budget person. In a recent presentation I wrote that we were "Considering Zimbabwe as a model for budget operations."

[sunskyfan]

Re: Meanwhile in Bizarro Land: Fiscal 2012 budget? How about Passing a Fiscal 2011 Budget

Yes, I know the President by law has to present a budget. CRs have been habit for a long time but what these folks don't get is that when the economy is in trouble it is no longer a game. Real businesses and real people are getting killed. Especially little guys since the "bigger guys" can get loans or have built in buffer to cover them until a budget is passed. It is an indicator to me that the Congress and even the President are not really in touch with how precarious the economy happens to be or they are only worried about the "bigger guys". Keep up the good fight!