Don't Expect A FY 09 Budget Any Time Soon

AIP FYI #82: FY 2008 Appropriations Bill Update

“Fiscal Year 2009 begins two months from this Friday. Yet appropriations work on Capitol Hill has become seriously bogged down, and it now appears that it may not be until March 2009 – about six months into the new fiscal year – when the FY 2009 appropriations’ cycle will be finished. … There are additional factors leading to this impasse. The potential for confrontations and delay during floor consideration is high in areas ranging from policy to funding levels to earmarks. The Democratic leadership contends that President Bush would veto any appropriations bill sent to him, which based on last year’s experience seems likely.”