Congress Temporarily Avoids Government Shutdown

Thought this was interesting to post since I work for the federal government. I remember when there were spending issues before and an aunt of mine who works for social security had to go without pay because both parties could not make up their minds on how to fix the budget.

Now all this money is being finagled. Bush wants half to still be spent on the war and Democrats want more funding at the home front. WHO do you think I am siding with????

I wish that this war would end soon. It has so many mistakes and false claims made. Another Vietnam. Not in regards to soldiers' lives but just what it has cost a foreign citizenry and what is costs us emotionally, our $$$$$$$$$ and our reputation overseas. It feels like this administration KNOWS it is wrong but DOES NOT CARE! Some that serve in the highest offices seem to only want more money in their pockets, to irradicate people who believe differently in themselves and curtail those who believe that our government was wrong to go into Iraq.

I love my country so very much and it hurts to see what is happening to it. I want peace, I want for us to be respected again for all of our accomplishments, for what we did in the past to promoting science, medicine, and education, being on the forefront of space, technology....I love how we as a people are from so many ethnic varieties, creeds.........we are what make this country great. WE the citizens!

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday passed and sent to President George W. Bush a temporary spending measure to keep the federal government running through November 16, giving Democrats and Republicans time to work out budget disagreements.
By a nearly unanimous vote of 94-1, the Senate approved the bill that is designed to avert government shutdowns that could have begun as early as next Monday if agencies ran out of money on the first day of the new fiscal year.
The legislation, which Bush is expected to sign into law, is needed because Congress failed to complete any of the 12 regular spending bills to fund government programs beginning October 1. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the temporary funds on Wednesday.
As they put off crucial spending decisions, the Senate on Thursday also agreed to raise the government's credit limit by $850 billion to $9.815 trillion. The added borrowing authority is needed because of huge budget deficits during Bush's presidency.
Over the next seven weeks, Democrats in Congress and the Bush administration are expected to negotiate over how much money should be spent next year on law enforcement, health care, education, domestic security, foreign aid and an array of other programs.
In his February budget plan, Bush asked for $933 billion for these programs, which must be renewed by Congress each year. He said any spending over that line would be vetoed.
Nearly half of the money Bush requested would fuel the military, including Pentagon weapons procurement. But it does not include the $189 billion Bush more recently has sought to pay for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, told reporters Congress will send three spending bills soon to Bush to "see what he does with them."
Democrats, who won control of Congress in last November's elections, want to add about $22 billion to Bush's request for these mostly domestic programs, saying they were shortchanged during six consecutive Republican budgets.
In an attempt to rally support, Democrats have contrasted the $22 billion with Bush's $189 billion war request for next year.

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