NFIB

Bush Wants Spending Authority If Congress Is Unable to Meet
10/22/2001

The White House is asking Congress to give President Bush spending authority to keep the government running for up to 30 days if Congress were unable to convene, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Although many lawmakers fear the authority would give the president unconstitutional power over Congress, the idea gained more importance last week after Capitol Hill was shutdown due to several anthrax threats. The Capitol building is scheduled to re-open today and lawmakers should resume meetings tomorrow, pending the results of some final tests for the germ.

The new fiscal year began on Oct. 1, and the funding extension will expire on Oct. 31, leaving lawmakers a little more than a week to pass 11 appropriations bills. Neither chamber has even begun to debate defense spending, one of the most important as the military continues attacks on Afghanistan.

Vice President Dick Cheney's office is backing the idea, and the Office of Management and Budget confirmed that it has sent a proposal, but it will not release details.