AASHTO Journal, 3 August 2012
Leadership from the House, Senate, and White House announced an agreement Tuesday on a six-month continuing resolution that would keep the federal government running through the election season.
The continuing resolution, if passed, would eliminate the possibility of a shutdown for federal agencies. The resolution would stand in place of appropriations bills and, if passed, would carry through the November elections, preventing a government showdown.
The measure would fund the government from Oct. 1, 2012 through March 2013 and would allow lawmakers additional time to debate the spending cuts and tax issues.
“This agreement reached between the Senate, the House, and the White House provides stability for the coming months, when we will have to resolve critical issues that directly affect middle class families,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a statement. “The funding levels in the six-month CR will correspond to the top-line funding level of $1.047 trillion. I hope that we can face the challenges ahead in the same spirit of compromise.”
House Speaker John Boehner said on his blog (bit.ly/CRboehner) that committee members and staff will work to draft language for the measure and vote on it upon Congress’s return to Washington in September.