By Larry Jones
November 18, 2002

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (IL) and Senator Trent Lott (MS), who will take over as Senate Majority Leader when the 108th Congress convenes in January, have decided to put off action on all unfinished 2003 spending bills until next year when Republicans will be in control of both Houses of Congress and the White House. So far only two (defense and military construction) of the regular 13 appropriations bills needed to keep federal agencies and programs operating from October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003 have been enacted.

Responding to the Republican leaders decision, the House passed a short term continuing resolution on November 13 which will fund domestic programs at last year's funding level through January 11. Although Senator Tom Daschle (SD) and Senator Robert Byrd (WV), who are serving as the Senate Majority Leader and Chairman of the Appropriations Committee respectively during the lame duck session, made a bid to attach several of the unfinished 2003 spending bills to the continuing resolution, they were unsuccessful. With the House scheduled to adjourn on November 14, the Senate is expected to consider the short term funding measure the week of November 18.