Congress Approves Another
FY 2003 Funding Extension; White House Threatens Veto
February 7, 2003 - Facing increasing pressure from
its leadership to finish the FY 2003 budget before the President's
Day recess, Congress Feb. 5 passed another continuing resolution
(CR) to keep federal programs operating at FY 2002 levels.
The new CR (H.J.Res.
18), which runs through Feb. 20, is the eighth funding
extension needed this fiscal year because Congress has approved
only two of the 13 annual appropriations bills.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) added
his voice to the calls for a year-long CR at FY 2002 levels
if Congress does not finish the FY 2003 bill by Feb. 14. Stevens
said Feb. 5 he would support a final CR through Sept. 30 if
conferees cannot settle their differences by the start of
the President's Day recess. Sen. Stevens's comments echo House
Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa), who threatened
last week to introduce a year-long CR to keep pressure on
the negotiations.
House and Senate conferees on the FY 2003 omnibus appropriations
bill (H.J.Res.
2) are tentatively scheduled to meet publicly Feb. 10
to finalize the package. However, the negotiators have not
reached agreement on several key points in the bill, including
the size of the across-the-board cut proposed by the Senate
to provide funding for several priority programs, including
Medicare and education. The Senate approved a 2.9 percent
cut; House conferees are insisting the cut be reduced to no
more than 1 percent.
Meanwhile, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Feb.
4 threatened a possible veto unless the final package is held
at or below the $755 billion limit set by the President. OMB
Director Mitch Daniels sent a letter to top House and Senate
appropriators stating that "excessive use of advance
appropriations or other mechanisms that would otherwise circumvent
the spending limits" would result in OMB recommending
the President veto the package. OMB also objected to a number
of specific provisions in the bill relating to areas such
as homeland security, trade sanctions, and abortion.
Information:
Dave Moore, Senior Associate Vice President
AAMC Government Relations
dbmoore@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
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