Budget Conference Convenes Second Meeting

On Nov. 13, the 29 budget conferees congregated for their second public meeting to debate the fiscal year (FY) 2014 budget top-line numbers and query the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Douglas Elmendorf regarding policy changes to spur economic growth and restrain expanding federal deficits. The conferees have until Dec. 13 – 14 legislative days – to come to an agreement and, at the very least, provide some relief from another round of sequester cuts set to take effect on Jan. 15. It is becoming rather evident that the most likely outcome will be a short-term agreement such as a one- or two-year government funding deal that includes some relief from the next round of sequestration. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have yet to announce either the conference committee’s next public meeting in December, or any progress on a top-line for FY 2014 in their private discussions. House and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairmen called on the conferees last month to settle on a level of discretionary spending for FY 2014 and 2015 before Thanksgiving and no later than Dec. 2. Appropriators are concerned that they would not be able to cobble together language for an omnibus spending bill in time if they do not get the top-line numbers by early December, leading to another continuing resolution (CR) or a potential government shutdown in mid-January. For more information, please contact Brian Lenihan at (202) 547-4733 or lenihanb@agc.org