All has been quiet in the halls of Congress since Members returned home for August recess. This time is officially called a District Work period and there are still conversations happening with the media and with each other on the upcoming agenda. One particular issue that is time-sensitive and very much in the spotlight is the appropriations process – the annual ritual in which Congress must hammer out just how much of your money the federal government will spend over the upcoming year.

In the final days of the Lame Duck session, Democrats and some Republicans have come to an agreement on a year-long omnibus spending bill for the remainder of FY2023. While those Republicans are touting their “wins,” they are buried underneath the nearly $1.7 trillion price tag and the typical leftist policies that will be continued next year.

Congress, once again, pushed the government funding fight until the last minute. After much debate in the Senate on vaccine mandates, raising the minimum wage, child tax credits, and the massive amount of spending, the best they could do is pass continuing resolutions (CRs) until a large appropriations package could be finalized.