J.D. FOSTER: Can Republicans Save America’s Budget Before It’s Too Late?

Republicans gained the House majority promising to pass all 12 annual appropriations bills on time. Then the House left for the August recess having passed only five. A month will remain before the next fiscal year when they return from recess. But none of the other bills is likely to pass.

Budget trainwreck, anyone?

In the House’s defense, the Senate has passed none of the appropriations bills and is even less likely to act after the recess.

So, if you are a House Republican, why bother to pass an appropriations bill if the Democrat-run Senate won’t? You can’t go to conference with a non-bill. You can’t negotiate with the White House when the other side doesn’t have the ante to sit at the table.

The die was cast months ago that 2024 would be another year of continuing resolution (CR) dramas starting on or about Oct. 1.

If they follow tradition, the first CR will push them past the election and Thanksgiving. Democrats and Republicans will then consider cutting a deal, but the easier course will be to pass a CR into 2025. Bet on the easy course.

The usual suspects on the far right may create problems initially, but eventually even they will get the joke. Pass a CR into 2025. Trump will be president again and Republicans will control the House and Senate, they will be told and now seems likely. Then we can cut spending and maybe even cut taxes, the extremists will enthuse.

By the way, the debt limit kicks in January 1