SENATE, HOUSE LEADERS SPAR OVER PLAN FOR APPROPRIATIONS BILLS

The weapons complex is likely headed for another round of budgeting-by-Continuing Resolution when Fiscal Year 2013 begins in October. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) made it clear Tuesday that the Senate won’t be taking up any appropriations bills before the end of the year due to a partisan rift over spending policies, drawing an immediate rebuke—and a government shutdown threat—from House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers yesterday. The House has passed six appropriations bills, including the FY2013 Energy and Water Appropriations Act; the Senate has not completed work on any of its spending bills, but the FY2013 Energy and Water Appropriations Act has been cleared by the Senate Appropriations Committee. “The 12 annual Appropriations bills cannot be swept under the rug and ignored until a more convenient political time,” Rogers said in a floor speech yesterday. “They can, and must, be dealt with in a judicious and responsible manner—else the nation will once again face the economic danger and instability of threats of a government shutdown.” On Tuesday, Reid suggested that because House Republicans had marked up appropriations bill to levels below the caps set by last year’s budget deal, striking a balance between the bills would be tough. “Until the Republicans get real, we can’t do that, because they have refused to adhere to the law that guides this country,” Reid said.