H.J.Res. 101

The House is scheduled to consider H. J. Res. 101 on Wednesday, December 1, 2010, under a closed rule (H.Res. 1741).  The rule provides for one hour of debate and one motion to recommit the bill, with or without instructions.    H. J. Res. 101 was introduced on November 30, 2010, by Rep. David Obey (D-WI) and referred to the Committee on Appropriations, which took no official action.

The Continuing Resolution (CR) would provide discretionary funding for government operations at FY 2010 levels through December 18, 2010.  Presently, government operations are being temporarily funded at FY 2010 levels under H.R. 3081, the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011 (P.L. 111-242).

The CR would extend all discretionary funding provided under P.L. 111-242, which is set to expire on December 3, 2010.  H. J. Res. 101 would also extend the authority of the government to carry out a number of programs which are also due to expire.  In addition, the legislation would retain a number of other provisions from FY 2010 appropriations bills, including all of the pro-life and values riders in effect in FY 2010.  For more information on the specific provisions of P.L. 111-242, please see the Legislative Digest for September 29, 2010.

Last Spring, Democrat leaders in the House failed to pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year for the first time since the passage of the Budget Act of 1974.  Instead of approving a federal budget for FY 2011, Democrats ”deemed” a $1.121 trillion budget enforcement resolution that was never passed in the House.  Similarly, the Democrat-led Congress failed to pass any of the 12 regular annual appropriations bills to provide discretionary funding for the federal government.  As a result of the Democrats’ failure to pass a budget or any appropriations bills, the federal government is currently being funded by a Continuing Resolution (CR) which was approved by a vote of 228–194 and will expire on Friday, December 3, 2010.  Having again failed to take any action on spending legislation, Democrats are attempting to pass another CR and extend funding and certain program authority at FY 2010 levels for an additional two weeks, through December 18, 2010.

The Continuing Resolution would extend discretionary funding at FY 2010 levels.  Spending under the CR would count against FY 2011 Appropriations Committee allocation levels.  According to CBO, budget authority for emergency and non-emergency discretionary appropriations totaled $1.275 trillion in FY 2010.

Some Members may be concerned that this legislation continues the unsustainable, high rates of spending passed by the Democrat majority for FY 2010.  This includes the higher baselines in many federal agency budgets that have been bolstered by unnecessary and ineffective “stimulus” dollars.  Rather than continue the same profligate spending, Republicans have pledged to return discretionary government spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels.  Returning discretionary spending to FY 2008 levels would save at least $100 billion in the first year alone and reduce deficits and debt by more than $900 billion in the next ten years.

Some Members may be concerned that the CR maintains untenably high discretionary spending levels that will ultimately lead to a lower standard of living and less opportunity for future generations of Americans.