FY 2009 budget watch

[workdrone]

From AP today re Bush's FY 2009 budget:

biz.yahoo.com/ap/080131/bush_budget.html

In an nutshell, President Bush's 2009 budget will virtually freeze most domestic programs and seek nearly $200 billion in savings from Medicare and Medicaid.

The White House budget proposal will be available for download starting February 4, 2008 at the OBM website:

www.whitehouse.gov/omb

Of course, it's very unlikely that the Democratic Congress is going to go along with it, and with the presidential election looming this November, I'm willing to bet that we're looking at a CR at least until February or March of 2009. What do folks think?

[doctorwho]

globalpanda said:

No body wants and ugly budget battle during an presidential election cycle with a sitting President in his terminal phase. If I had to hazard a guess I would say the chances of a CR are lower than usual. The current occupant will be on his way out and the new occupant will be riding high. A lot of this will depend on how close the election is. A landslide, and we may see an entirely new budget process! A close election, more of the same old, same old. Are Federal politics fascinating?

CR not so likely in an election year -- I agree. Nobody wants all this stuff hanging in the air when there is a November election. Things could get wrapped up as early as September/October in the budget process. Is it wishful thinking? Of course.