Nearly three months late, with just days left before the holidays and under the threat of a looming government shutdown, Congress is finally doing most of this year’s work by passing an "omnibus" spending bill.What a truly insane way to run the government.
On Tuesday, the Senate voted to move the $1.7 trillion, 4,155-page legislative whopper to keep the government funded for the rest of the 2024 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. Leadership hopes to finalize it this week — before a partial government shutdown takes effect at 11 p.m. Friday.
Why the delay and last-minute rush, when politicians had a whole year to get this done? No emergency derailed the "normal" process: This has just become the new "normal," as Congress now routinely winds up in this mess — at least half-intentionally, as many think an omnibus is the best chance to get their way.
Indeed, it’s failed to pass all appropriations bills on time for 26 straight years now: The last time it met the Oct. 1 deadline was 1996.